Abstract: A method for determining one or more fluid flow parameters for a fluid flowing within a pipe is provided. The fluid is a mixture of solid particles and gas. The method includes the steps of: a) providing a meter operable to determine the velocity of the fluid flow through the pipe, which meter is substantially insensitive to the particulate/gas mass ratio of the fluid flow; b) determining the velocity of the fluid flow within the pipe using the meter; and c) determining a particulate/gas mass ratio using a density value for the gas within the flow and the determined fluid flow velocity.

Abstract: A flow measuring system combines a density measuring device and a device for measuring the speed of sound (SOS) propagating through the fluid flow and/or for determining the gas volume fraction (GVF) of the flow. The GVF meter measures acoustic pressures propagating through the fluids to measure the speed of sound ?mix propagating through the fluid to calculate at least gas volume fraction of the fluid and/or SOS. In response to the measured density and gas volume fraction, a processing unit determines the density of non-gaseous component of an aerated fluid flow. For three phase fluid flows, the processing unit can determine the phase fraction of the non-gaseous components of the fluid flow. The gas volume fraction (GVF) meter may include a sensing device having a plurality of strain-based or pressure sensors spaced axially along the pipe for measuring the acoustic pressures propagating through the flow.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for identifying one or more fluid products flowing within a pipe are provided having a flow meter mounted on the pipe and a processing unit. The flow meter has a plurality of sensors operable to detect vortical disturbances flowing with the fluid products and acoustic waves propagating through the fluid. The sensors produce signals indicative of the vortical disturbances and acoustic waves. The processing unit is operable to determine the speed of sound and volumetric flow rate of the one or more fluid products using the signals from the flow meter. The processing unit includes a database having speed of sound data for a predetermined group of products. The processing unit is operable to identify the type of each product flowing within the pipe given a temperature and pressure value of the products within the pipe.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring at least one characteristic of an aerated fluid flowing within a pipe is provided, wherein the method includes generating a measured sound speed, a measured density, a pressure and a gas volume fraction for the aerated fluid. The method also includes correcting the measured density responsive to the measured sound speed, the pressure and the gas volume fraction to generate a corrected density. The method further includes calculating a liquid phase density, determining whether the gas volume fraction is above a predetermined threshold value and generating a mass flow rate responsive to whether the gas volume fraction is above the predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A device for measurement of entrained and dissolved gas has a first module arranged in relation to a process line for providing a first signal containing information about a sensed entrained air/gas in a fluid or process mixture flowing in the process line at a process line pressure. The device features a combination of a bleed line, a second module and a third module. The bleed line is coupled to the process line for bleeding a portion of the fluid or process mixture from the process line at a bleed line pressure that is lower than the process pressure. The second module is arranged in relation to the bleed line, for providing a second signal containing information about a sensed bleed line entrained air/gas in the fluid or process mixture flowing in the bleed line.

Abstract: A flow measuring system is provided that provides at least one of a compensated mass flow rate measurement and a compensated density measurement. The flow measuring system includes a gas volume fraction meter in combination with a coriolis meter. The GVF meter measures acoustic pressures propagating through the fluids to measure the speed of sound ?mix propagating through the fluid to calculate at least gas volume fraction of the fluid and/or the reduced natural frequency. For determining an improved density for the coriolis meter, the calculated gas volume fraction and/or reduced frequency is provided to a processing unit. The improved density is determined using analytically derived or empirically derived density calibration models (or formulas derived therefore), which is a function of the measured natural frequency and at least one of the determined GVF, reduced frequency and speed of sound, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a fluid cut measurement of a multi-liquid mixture includes a first device configured to sense at least one parameter of the mixture to determine a fluid cut of a liquid in the mixture. A second device is configured to determine a concentration of gas in the mixture in response to a speed of sound in the mixture; and a signal processor is configured to adjust the fluid cut of the liquid using the concentration of the gas to determine a compensated fluid cut of the liquid. The parameter of the mixture sensed by the first device may include a density of the mixture (e.g., by way of a Coriolis meter), a permittivity of the mixture (e.g., by way of a resonant microwave oscillator), or an amount of microwave energy absorbed by the mixture (e.g., by way of a microwave absorption watercut meter). The signal processor may employ different correction factors depending on the type of fluid cut device used. The second device may include a gas volume fraction meter.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a parameter of a fluid passing through a pipe includes a spatial array of at least two sensors disposed at different axial locations along the pipe. Each of the sensors provides a signal indicative of unsteady pressure within the pipe at a corresponding axial location of the pipe. A signal processor constructs at least a portion of a k-? plot using the signals and detects at least one ridge in the k-? plot. A slope of the at least one ridge is indicative of the parameter of the fluid. The signal processor determines a quality metric by comparing an accumulated energy (power) of k-? pairs along the at least one ridge with an accumulated energy (power) of k-? pairs along at least one ray extending in the k-? plot. The quality metric is indicative of a quality of the at least one ridge.

Abstract: A apparatus 10, 110 is provided that measures the speed of sound and/or vortical disturbances propagating in a fluid or mixture having entrained gas/air to determine the gas volume fraction of the flow 12 propagating through a pipes and compensating or correcting the volumetric flow measurement for entrained air. The GVF meter includes and array of sensor disposed axially along the length of the pipe. The GVF measures the speed of sound propagating through the pipe and fluid to determine the gas volume fraction of the mixture using array processing. The GVF meter can be used with an electromagnetic meter and a consistency meter to compensate for volumetric flow rate and consistency measurement respective, to correct for errors due to entrained gas/air.

Abstract: An apparatus 10,70 and method is provided that includes a spatial array of unsteady pressure sensors 15-18 placed at predetermined axial locations X1-XN disposed axially along a pipe 14 for measuring at least one parameter of a solid particle/fluid mixture 12 flowing in the pipe 14. The pressure sensors 15-18 provide acoustic pressure signals P1(t)-PN(t) to a signal processing unit 30 which determines the speed of sound amix of the particle/fluid mixture 12 in the pipe 14 using acoustic spatial array signal processing techniques. The primary parameters to be measured include fluid/particle concentration, fluid/particle mixture volumetric flow, and particle size. Frequency based sound speed is determined utilizing a dispersion model to determine the parameters of interest.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing a fiscal measurement of at least one characteristic of an aerated fluid flowing within a pipe is provided, wherein the apparatus includes at least one metering device for determining the mixture density of the fluid, the speed of sound of the fluid and the speed of sound of the liquid portion of the fluid, wherein the at least one metering device generates meter data responsive to the mixture density of the fluid, the speed of sound of the fluid and the speed of sound of the liquid portion of the fluid. The apparatus further includes a processing device communicated with the at least one metering device, wherein the processing device receives the meter data and processes the meter data to generate the at least one fiscal measurement.

Abstract: A clamp on apparatus 10,110 is provided that measures the speed of sound or acoustic disturbances propagating in a fluid or mixture having entrained gas/air to determine the gas volume fraction of the flow 12 propagating through a pipe 14. The apparatus includes an array of pressure sensors clamped onto the exterior of the pipe and disposed axially along the length of the pipe. The apparatus measures the speed of sound propagating through the fluid to determine the gas volume fraction of the mixture using adaptive array processing techniques to define an acoustic ridge in the k-? plane. The slope of the acoustic ridge 61 defines the speed of sound propagating through the fluid in the pipe.

Abstract: An apparatus 10,70 and method is provided that includes a spatial array of unsteady pressure sensors 15-18 placed at predetermined axial locations x1-xN disposed axially along a pipe 14 for measuring at least one parameter of a saturated vapor/liquid mixture 12, such as steam, flowing in the pipe 14. The pressure sensors 15-18 provide acoustic pressure signals P1(t)-PN(t) to a signal processing unit 30 which determines the speed of sound amix propagating through of the saturated vapor/liquid mixture 12 in the pipe 14 using acoustic spatial array signal processing techniques. The primary parameters to be measured include vapor/liquid concentration (i.e., steam wetness or steam quality), vapor/liquid mixture volumetric flow, mass flow, enthalpy, density and liquid droplet size. Frequency based sound speed is determined utilizing a dispersion model to determine the parameters of interest.

Abstract: A probe 10,170 is provided that measures the speed of sound and/or vortical disturbances propagating in a single phase fluid flow and/or multiphase mixture to determine parameters, such as mixture quality, particle size, vapor/mass ratio, liquid/vapor ratio, mass flow rate, enthalpy and volumetric flow rate of the flow in a pipe or unconfined space, for example, using acoustic and/or dynamic pressures. The probe includes a spatial array of unsteady pressure sensors 15-18 placed at predetermined axial locations x1-xN disposed axially along a tube 14. For measuring at least one parameter of a saturated vapor/liquid mixture 12, such as steam, flowing in the tube 14. The pressure sensors 15-18 provide acoustic pressure signals P1(t)-PN(t) to a signal processing unit 30 which determines the speed of sound amix propagating through of the saturated vapor/liquid mixture 12 in the tube 14 using acoustic spatial array signal processing techniques.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for calibrating a flow meter having an array of sensors arranged in relation to a pipe that measures a flow rate of a fluid flowing in the pipe. The method features the step of calibrating the flow rate using a calibration correction function based on one or more parameters that characterize either the array of sensors, the pipe, the fluid flowing in the pipe, or some combination thereof. The calibration correction function depends on either a ratio t/D of the pipe wall thickness (t) and the pipe inner diameter (D); a ratio t/? of the pipe wall thickness (t) and the eddie wavelength (?) of the fluid; a Reynolds number (?UD/?) that characterizes the fluid flow in the pipe; a ratio ?x/D of the sensor spacing (?x) and the pipe inner diameter (D); a ratio f?x/Umeas of usable frequencies in relation to the sensor spacing (?x) and the raw flow rate (Umeas); or some combination thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus 10 and method is provided that includes a spatial array of unsteady pressure sensors 15-18 placed at predetermined axial locations x1-xN disposed axially along a pipe 14 for measuring at least one parameter of a solid particle/fluid mixture 12 flowing in the pipe 14. The pressure sensors 15-18 provide acoustic pressure signals P1(t)-PN(t) to a signal processing unit 30 which determines the speed of sound amix(?) of the particle/fluid mixture 12 in the pipe 14 using acoustic spatial array signal processing techniques. The primary parameters to be measured include fluid/particle concentration, fluid/particle mixture volumetric flow, and particle size. Frequency based sound speed is determined utilizing a dispersion model to determine the parameters of interest. the calculating the at least one parameter uses an acoustic pressure to calculate.

Abstract: An apparatus 10 and method is provided that includes a spatial array of unsteady pressure sensors 15–18 placed at predetermined axial locations x1–xN disposed axially along a pipe 14 for measuring the velocity and volumetric flow rate of a single phase or multi-phase fluid 12 having a non-negligible axial Mach number flowing in the pipe 14. The pressure sensors 15–18 provide acoustic pressure signals P1(t)–PN(t) to a signal processing unit 30 which determines the speed of sound propagating with and against the flow of the fluid 12 in the pipe 14 using acoustic spatial array signal processing techniques. The apparatus, responsive to the measured speed of sound propagating with and against the flow of the fluid, determines the velocity and the flow rate of the fluid propagating through the pipe.

Abstract: A parameter of a fluid passing through a pipe is measured using a spatial array of sensors disposed at different axial locations along the pipe. The spatial array includes at least two overlapping sub-arrays. Using the pressure signals, a signal processor determines a spatial correlation matrix for each of the sub arrays. The spatial correlation matrices from the sub-arrays are averaged, and the averaged spatial correlation matrix is used as input to an adaptive array processing algorithm. The pipe may be open ended such that it can be positioned within the fluid flow for forming a portion of a sensing device.

Abstract: A apparatus 10,110 is provided that measures the speed of sound and/or vortical disturbances propagating in a fluid or mixture having entrained gas/air to determine the gas volume fraction of the flow 12 propagating through a pipes and compensating or correcting the volumetric flow measurement for entrained air. The GVF meter includes and array of sensor disposed axially along the length of the pipe. The GVF measures the speed of sound propagating through the pipe and fluid to determine the gas volume fraction of the mixture using array processing. The GVF meter can be used with an electromagnetic meter and a consistency meter to compensate for volumetric flow rate and consistency measurement respective, to correct for errors due to entrained gas/air.

Abstract: A flow measuring system is provided that provides at least one of a compensated mass flow rate measurement and a compensated density measurement. The flow measuring system includes a gas volume fraction meter in combination with a coriolis meter. The GVF meter measures acoustic pressures propagating through the fluids to measure the speed of sound ?mix propagating through the fluid to calculate at least gas volume fraction of the fluid and/or the reduced natural frequency. For determining an improved density for the coriolis meter, the calculated gas volume fraction and/or reduced frequency is provided to a processing unit. The improved density is determined using analytically derived or empirically derived density calibration models (or formulas derived therefore), which is a function of the measured natural frequency and at least one of the determined GVF, reduced frequency and speed of sound, or any combination thereof.