Radiant Energy Patents (Class 702/49)
  • Patent number: 11255710
    Abstract: A disclosed mass flow meter/controller includes: a flow tube to direct a fluid from an inlet of the flow tube to an outlet of the flow tube; an actuator to cause a vibration in the flow tube; a light source to emit light; at least one beam splitter to split the light emitted by the light source into a first light beam and a second light beam; a first optical sensor to output first measurements of a first position of a first location on the flow tube based on detecting the first light beam; a second optical sensor to output second measurements of a second position of a second location on the flow tube based on detecting the second light beam; and control circuitry to determine a mass flow rate and/or a density of the fluid in the flow tube based on the first and second measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Vladimir Krakhman
  • Patent number: 11002583
    Abstract: A flow measurement method for optical measurement of a volume flow of a fluid in a closed cross-section, and a flow measurement device for this purpose, has at least one light source and at least one sensor unit. Particles present in the fluid are detected within a measurement plane by the sensor unit. At least one measurement plane and the particles present therein are illuminated with the light source. The sensor unit is provided with at least two or with a plurality of individual detectors with which sensor signals are outputted. A computing unit is connected downstream of the sensor unit, with which the sensor signals are processed in real time by integrating and weighting the individual signals of the individual detectors using a spatial-filtering technique and outputted as an output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: SIKA DR. SIEBERT & KÜHN GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Bastian Wilke, Nils Damaschke, Andre Kleinwächter, Martin Schäper
  • Patent number: 10690529
    Abstract: Ultrasonic measurements are made of a multiphase fluid (oil, water and gas) in pipe or conduits with high values of gas content in the multiphase fluid. Ultrasonic transceivers are positioned around the pipe wall in acoustic contact with the fluid system. The fluid flow is caused to move in a vortex or swirling flow with vortex inducing elements located in the pipe upstream of the transceivers, forcing the gas phase to a cylindrical area at the center of multiphase flow in the pipe, with water and oil multiphase fluid components forming an outer annular flow. Measures of cross sectional composition of the gas portion of multiphase fluid are provided based on the reflected waves from the interface. Tomographic images of the relative presence and position of the three fluid phases are also formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Mohamed Nabil Noui-Mehidi
  • Patent number: 10690532
    Abstract: A method of determining a fraction of one or more phases in a multi-phase fluid in a conduit is provided. The method includes exciting (602) a sensing device to cause emission of electromagnetic waves of a range of frequencies into a multi-phase fluid. The sensing device comprises an antenna and a dielectric layer, selected to cause resonance in at least one of a first set of frequencies or a second set of frequencies based on a flow state of the multi-phase fluid, when placed proximate to the multi-phase fluid. The method also includes receiving (604) transmitted or reflected electromagnetic waves from the multi-phase fluid. The flow state of the multi-phase fluid is selected (606) based on a classification parameter. Fractions are determined (608) utilizing at least one fraction determination model that is selected based on the flow state of the multi-phase fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC
    Inventors: Prafull Sharma, Aparna Chakrapani Sheila-Vadde, Suma Memana Narayana Bhat, Vikram Melapudi
  • Patent number: 10539497
    Abstract: A method and a flow cytometer system in which a light path is aligned to optimally direct light from a light source to a flow cell of a flow cytometer instrument are provided. The flow cytometer may include an orientable mirror disposed in the light path between the light source and the flow cell. By changing an orientation of the mirror through a sequence of different orientations, an optimal orientation of the mirror may be determined, and the mirror may be oriented accordingly before proceeding to conduct a flow cytometry investigation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Essen Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew W. Smolak, Erica Dawson Tenent, Kathy L. Rowlen, Garrett S. Wilson, Christopher H. Converse, Evan M. Toth
  • Patent number: 10175075
    Abstract: A device for measuring properties of a fluid flow includes a pipe having a first pipe section which includes a fluid flow modifying feature for causing a liquid part of the fluid flow to form an annular layer at an inner wall of a second pipe section arranged downstream of the first pipe section, the second pipe section including a near field probe for applying a low frequency signal to the annular layer and a full volume field probe for applying a high frequency signal into the second pipe section, and a third pipe section arranged downstream of the second pipe section, the third pipe section including a resonance enabling element that together with at least the second pipe section provides a resonator which captures parts of the frequency range of the full volume field probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: FMC Kongsberg Subsea AS
    Inventors: Anders Eriksson, Svein-Petter Hanserud, Truls-Martin Larsen, Arnstein Wee
  • Patent number: 9785731
    Abstract: A method of projection a production characteristic includes receiving down well video image data depicting multiphase flow within the well, determining a flow rate data of at least one phase of the multiphase flow based on the down well video image data, and projecting the production characteristic based at least in part on the determined flow rate using a well performance model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: DATAINFOCOM USA, INC.
    Inventors: Frederick Johannes Venter, Atanu Basu
  • Patent number: 9166709
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying ambient signal data in a test signal data set. A cumulative amplitude distribution of data elements is identified in the test signal data set in order by amplitude values. The data elements comprise frequency values and corresponding amplitude values. A subset of data elements from the test signal data set is identified. The subset of data elements comprises the data elements with the amplitude values greater than a first threshold value. The data elements in the subset of data elements are identified wherein a difference between the amplitude values of adjacent data elements in the cumulative amplitude distribution of data elements is greater than a second threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Ryan Lee Carlson
  • Patent number: 9046339
    Abstract: Methods for determining improving quantitative and qualitative motion contrast information collected with optical coherence tomography (OCT) data are presented. In one embodiment, flow within a cross-sectional area of a sample is calculated independent of the Doppler and en face angles using a bidirectional OCT system. In another embodiment, motion contrast images are improved by averaging motion contrast information collected from a bidirectional OCT system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.
    Inventors: Cedric Blatter, Rainer A. Leitgeb
  • Publication number: 20150149099
    Abstract: A flow measuring device, comprising a container for receiving a flow of liquid, a plurality of optical sensors associated with the container, each of the plurality of optical sensors producing an output signal dependent upon the presence of liquid reaching a level in the container associated with each optical sensor, means for modifying the output signal in accordance with at least one predetermined temperature compensation factor, and means for calculating a flow rate from the time at which the liquid traverses between two levels in the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Malcolm Charles Brown, Keith Norman McMann
  • Patent number: 9031810
    Abstract: A system and method for enhanced and expanded localized geometry characterization. Objects of interest are enhanced, detected, and classified according to user-defined parameters, and this enables enhanced contrast and more accurate feature detection, as well as more accurately defined feature object regions for feature geometry measurement and characterization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Inventors: Haiguang Chen, Jaydeep K. Sinha, Sergey Kamensky
  • Publication number: 20140324366
    Abstract: An example system includes a separator that accepts and separates a multiphase flowback effluent stream into a plurality of secondary streams. A first sensor assembly monitors the multiphase flowback effluent stream and generates a first signal corresponding to at least one characteristic of the multiphase flowback effluent stream. A second sensor assembly monitors one of the plurality of secondary streams and generates a second signal corresponding to at least one characteristic of the one of the plurality of secondary streams. A signal processor receives the first and second signals and determines a mass flow rate of a substance present in both the multiphase flowback effluent stream and the one of the plurality of secondary streams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Matthew Ljungdahl, Sean A. Roach, Alexis Wachtel
  • Patent number: 8874374
    Abstract: A method and system for determining a rate of turbulent kinetic energy dissipation (TKED) in a turbulent fluid environment are provided. A light source provided at a first end of a predetermined path-length passes a beam of light through the turbulent fluid environment. An angle of arrival detection unit detects the angle of arrival of the at least one beam of light. The angle of arrival is then processed at a processing unit that calculates temperature dissipation spectra as a function of the autocorrelation of the angle of arrival. The peak of the temperature dissipation spectra represents the rate of TKED. A number of turbulent quantities can be determined by using the method and system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Inventor: Darek J. Bogucki
  • Patent number: 8855947
    Abstract: Various methods of metering a multi-phase composition in a pipe using patch antenna(s), that operate in a radio or microwave frequency range, are disclosed including locating and then exciting the patch antenna(s) over a range of frequencies; measuring transmitted and reflected signals over time; estimating a shift in a resonant frequency from a baseline resonant frequency; then calculating a permittivity of the composition, based on the shift; and calculating a phase composition of the multi-phase composition. The present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiment(s), and it is recognized that equivalents, alternatives, and modifications, aside from those expressly stated, are possible and within the scope of the appending claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Aparna Chakrapani Sheila-Vadde, Prafull Sharma, Manoj Kumar Koyithitta Meethal, Mandar Diwakar Godbole
  • Patent number: 8849593
    Abstract: The present invention provides a water heater, including a combustor, a gas pipe, a combustion controller, a pressure gauge, and a controller. The gas pipe supplies the combustor gas. The combustion controller controls combustion of the combustor. The pressure gauge detects a gas pressure in the gas pipe and generates an electrical signal in association with the gas pressure. The controller is electrically connected to the gas gauge and the combustion controller to receive the electrical signal from the gas gauge and controls the combustion controller according to the electrical signal to adjust the combustion of the combustor. In addition, the present invention further provides a method of controlling the water heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Grand Mate Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung-Chin Huang, Chin-Ying Huang, Hsin-Ming Huang, Hsing-Hsiung Huang, Kuan-Chou Lin, Yen-Jen Yen
  • Patent number: 8843281
    Abstract: Seed meters, agricultural planters, and methods of planting seed are provided. Such meters, planters, and methods may include a housing defining a chamber, a seed disc rotatably coupled to the housing and at least partially positioned within the chamber with the seed disc adapted to engage a seed, and a sensor for detecting a characteristic of the seed after the seed disengages the seed disc and before the seed exits the seed meter. The sensor may be coupled to a seed chute of the seed meter and may detect a wide variety of seed characteristics such as seed position within the seed chute, seed size, and seed shape. The seed characteristic may be used to adjust operation of the seed meters, agricultural planters, and methods. In some instances, the adjustment may be manual. In other instances, the adjustment may be automatic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Kinze Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Wilhelmi, Courtney N. Achen, Marvin L. Bachman
  • Patent number: 8798942
    Abstract: In a method and a device for phase-sensitive flow measurement of a volume segment of an examination subject in a measurement system, the volume segment is divided into multiple partial volume segments and the following steps are executed repeatedly until the volume segment has been completely measured: movement of a table such that a center of one of the partial volume segments to be measured essentially corresponds to the isocenter of the magnetic resonance system, and implementation of the phase-sensitive flow measurement for the partial volume segment to be measured while the center of the partial volume segment essentially corresponds to the isocenter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Greiser, Edgar Mueller, Michael Zenge
  • Publication number: 20140200838
    Abstract: A water saving device including a housing and a processor disposed within the housing. The processor calculates a water volume expended over a period of time based on a predetermined volumetric flow rate and time. A sensor is disposed within the housing for sensing the presence of a user. The sensor is operably connected to the processor. The sensor generates a signal to cause the processor to begin calculating the water volume upon sensing the presence of a user. A display indicates the expended water volume and is operatively connected to the processor. The display shows a virtual water level which rises as time and water usage increases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: GREEN STARTS HERE, LLC
    Inventor: Kevin Myers
  • Patent number: 8712703
    Abstract: The invention comprises a turbulence sensor and sensor system for determining the condition of a wind turbine blade. A turbulence sensor comprises a sensor membrane provided in the surface of a wind turbine blade. A light source and light detector provided in a sensor cavity in the blade illuminate the sensor membrane and detect the light reflected back. The reflected light is mixed with non-reflected light to give an interference pattern indicative of the quality of the airflow, whether it is laminar or turbulent. The turbulence sensor can be used in a sensor system for detecting the accumulation of unwanted matter, such as dirt or ice, on the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventor: Ib Olesen
  • Publication number: 20140110105
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for monitoring a multiphase fluid and determining a characteristic of the multiphase fluid. One system includes a flow path containing a fluid, at least one integrated computational element configured to optically interact with the fluid and thereby generate optically interacted light, at least one detector arranged to receive the optically interacted light from the at least one integrated computational element and generate an output signal corresponding to at least one characteristic of a phase of the fluid, and a signal processor communicably coupled to the at least one detector and configured to determine the at least one characteristic of the phase of the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Michael Jones, Robert P. Freese, Michael T. Pelletier, Robert Atkinson
  • Patent number: 8639475
    Abstract: A system and method of signal detection from a given point, in which a radiative aperture, such as a sonar sensor, radar antenna, acoustic sensor, or the like, receives radiation from the point at more than one range. At each range, the signal incident on each point within the aperture is weighted by the cosine of the angle between a surface normal at the point on the aperture, and a vector from the point on the aperture to the given point. The physical size and shape of the aperture may also be changed to cause the aperture to subtend the same solid angle having the given point as the vertex, at each range. In this manner, the signal from the given point becomes aperture shape independent, facilitating object recognition and imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Richard Rikoski
  • Patent number: 8626457
    Abstract: Methods of and devices for testing medical pumps via tracking induced single or multiple bubble trajectories within a fluid flow conduit by detecting a periodic synchronization event, via bubble tracking of a signal processor unit comprising a central processing unit and addressable memory and methods of synchronized corrections of fluid flow data estimates based on the detected periodic synchronization events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Pronk Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl A. Ruiter, Mirik Hovsepian
  • Patent number: 8618497
    Abstract: The present invention provides a drawing apparatus including a plurality of drawing units each of which is configured to perform drawing on a substrate with a charged particle beam, a plurality of first processors configured to be selectively connectable to each of the plurality of drawing units, an information processor configured to determine, from the plurality of first processors, a first processor to be connected to a first drawing unit among the plurality of drawing units, based on drawing data, and a connection unit configured to connect the determined first processor to the first drawing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Ohishi, Tomoyuki Morita
  • Patent number: 8615370
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer-readable medium for estimating a mass of silicates in a fluid flowing in a member is disclosed. A magnetic field is induced in the fluid to align nuclei of the fluid along a direction of the magnetic field. A radio frequency signal is transmitted into the fluid from a transmitter to excite silicon nuclei present in the fluid. A signal is received from the silicon nuclei responsive to the transmitted radio frequency signal at a receiver. A processor estimates the mass of silicates in the fluid directly from the received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Joo Tim Ong
  • Publication number: 20130275061
    Abstract: A conveyor mechanism conveys a powder along a path. A first camera device arranged above the conveyor mechanism detects movement of a recognizable feature on an upper surface of the powder over a period of time. A velocity of the powder can be determined based on the movement of the recognizable feature over the period of time. A device can be used to generate the recognizable feature. A first light-emitting device can illuminate the upper surface to aid detection of the recognizable feature. A second light-emitting device can project a contour line on the upper surface, and a second camera device can be used to detect a position of the contour line. A cross sectional area of the powder can be correlated based on the position of the contour line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: ANUBIS MANUFACTURING CONSULTANTS CORP.
    Inventor: Tharwat Fouad-Fahmi
  • Publication number: 20130211746
    Abstract: The multiphase flow measurement system and method includes video sensors and illumination along a pipe upstream, and a similar arrangement of sensors and illumination downstream displaced from the first location by a known distance utilized for velocity calculation between images at both locations. Image capturing and processing is done from video data at both locations. Objects corresponding to each flow phase in the video images are characterized and sorted by size, color, spectral properties, shapes, and pattern features using automatic pattern recognition. Image cross-correlation and pattern recognition are applied to each group of objects corresponding to one or more flow phases to estimate the velocity of each phase based on the delay calculation. Flow velocity is calculated from the weighted average of the phase velocities. Overall flow type is estimated using the estimated phase velocities and the areas occupied by the objects corresponding to each phase in the images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
    Inventors: MOUSTAFA ELSHAFEI, FOUAD AL-SUNNI, SAMI EL-FERIK
  • Patent number: 8504310
    Abstract: An impact sensor is located in a distribution tower which divides the seed and/or nutrient flow into individual rows, and a second sensor provides a compensation signal dependent upon one or more variables such as the velocity of the air in the conveying system, implement vibrations. As the seed/fertilizer bounces off of the impact sensor and flows into the individual row air streams, the impact sensor provides a force signal to a processor which calculates the total particulate mass flow rate from the force signal and the air velocity signal. To determine individual seed and fertilizer rates, a rate controller temporarily changes the metering rate of one of the materials, and the processor then calculates the desired information from the mass flow change and meter speed change. Another embodiment includes seed sensor structure at the meter output for achieving or confirming accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Donald K. Landphair, James J. Phelan, James Z. Liu
  • Publication number: 20130080082
    Abstract: A system for creating a flow cytometer network includes: a flow cytometer with an interrogation zone and a fixed gain detection system that collects sample data from the interrogation zone; a flow cytometer data center that stores and manages sample- related data from the flow cytometer; and a network communication module that communicates sample-related data between the flow cytometer and the data center. The system may include a second flow cytometer and a second network communication module, where the first and second flow cytometers are calibrated to have substantially identical fixed gain settings. A method for creating a flow cytometer network includes: calibrating first and second flow cytometers with a calibration solution; collecting sample data with a fixed gain detection system; uploading data to a flow cytometer data center; retrieving data from the data center; and performing data analysis on the retrieved data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: ACCURI CYTOMETERS, INC.
    Inventors: Grant C. Howes, Collin A. Rich
  • Patent number: 8340913
    Abstract: Methods and related systems are described for analyzing phase properties in a microfluidic device. A fluid is introduced under pressure into microchannel, and phase states of the fluid are optically detected at a number of locations along the microchannel. Gas and liquid phases of the fluid are distinguished based on a plurality of digital images of the fluid in the microchannel. Bi-level images can be generated based on the digital images, and the fraction of liquid or gas in the fluid can be estimated versus pressure based on the bi-level images. Properties such as bubble point values and/or a phase volume distribution ratio versus pressure for the fluid are can be estimated based on the detected phase states of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Farshid Mostowfi, Younes Belahnech
  • Publication number: 20120323502
    Abstract: A flow volume measurement device or a flow velocity measurement device include a measurement cell including a main pipe, an incident tube that is connected to the main pipe, an emission tube that is connected to the main pipe, and a first purge-fluid supply tube that is connected to the incident tube, a purge-fluid supply unit that supplies purge fluid into the first purge-fluid supply tube of the measurement cell, a light emitting unit that emits a laser beam to the measurement cell, a light receiving unit that receives the laser beam emitted from the light emitting unit and having passed through the measurement cell, and outputs a received amount of light as a light reception signal, a calculation unit that calculates a flow volume or a flow velocity of exhaust fluid flowing in the measurement cell, based on a light reception signal output from the light receiving unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Masazumi Tanoura, Kenji Muta, Atsushi Takita, Minoru Danno, Shinichiro Asami, Kageharu Moriyama, Daishi Ueno, Ichiro Awaya, Tadashi Aoki
  • Publication number: 20120310553
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer-readable medium for estimating a mass of silicates in a fluid flowing in a member is disclosed. A magnetic field is induced in the fluid to align nuclei of the fluid along a direction of the magnetic field. A radio frequency signal is transmitted into the fluid from a transmitter to excite silicon nuclei present in the fluid. A signal is received from the silicon nuclei responsive to the transmitted radio frequency signal at a receiver. A processor estimates the mass of silicates in the fluid directly from the received signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Joo Tim Ong
  • Patent number: 8296082
    Abstract: A performance inspection system for an array ultrasound transducer includes: a driver for selectively applying an electric signal to all or some parts of constituent channels of the array ultrasound transducer; an acoustic power measurement unit for measuring an ultrasound acoustic power emitted from individual channels receiving the same voltage from the driver; a radiation conductance conversion unit for measuring a voltage signal applied to each channel although the driver applies different voltages to the individual channels, and converting the measured voltage into an ultrasound acoustic power acquired when the same voltage is applied to the channels; and a channel uniformity estimation unit for estimating uniformity of the acoustic power value acquired by the radiation conductance conversion unit or uniformity of acoustic power values of the individual channels measured under the same voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science
    Inventors: Yong-tae Kim, Moon-jae Jho, Sung-soo Jung, Ho-chul Kim, Yong-hyeon Yun
  • Patent number: 8290632
    Abstract: A method for controlling the influx of fluids into a multizone well in which each inflow zone is provided with an inflow control device, comprises: assessing the flux of oil, gas, water and other effluents from the well; monitoring production variables, including ICD position and/or fluid pressure in each inflow zone upstream of each ICD and/or downstream of each ICD; sequentially adjusting the position of each of the ICDs and assessing the flux of crude oil, natural gas and/or other well effluents; monitoring production variables; deriving a zonal production estimation model for each inflow zone of the well; and adjusting each ICD to control the influx of crude oil, natural gas and/or other effluents into each inflow zone on the basis of data derived from the zonal production estimation model for each inflow zone of the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Jan Jozef Maria Briers, Keat-Choon Goh, Christophe Lauwerys, Peter Stefaan Lutgard Van Overschee, Henk Nico Jan Poulisse
  • Publication number: 20120209543
    Abstract: Method for operating a thermal, flow measuring device and a thermal, flow measuring device having a first sensor having a first heatable, resistance thermometer and at least one additional, second sensor having a second heatable, resistance thermometer, wherein a decision coefficient is calculated according to the formula DC=(PC1?PC2)/PC1, wherein PC1(t=t1)=(t1)/(T1,heated;actual(t=t1)?Tmedium;actual(t=t1)) and P2,2(t=t2)=P2,2(t2)/(T2,heated;actual(t=t2)?Tmedium;actual(t=t2)), with P being the heating powers absorbed by the corresponding resistance thermometers at the points in time t and the temperature values T, wherein the value of the decision coefficient shows flow direction of a measured medium in the measuring tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: Emderss + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Axel Pfau, Vivek Kumar, Anastasios Badarlis
  • Publication number: 20120203477
    Abstract: Methods of and devices for testing medical pumps via tracking induced single or multiple bubble trajectories within a fluid flow conduit (60) and methods of synchronized (600) corrections (604) of flow data estimates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Inventors: Karl A. Ruiter, Mirik Hovsepian
  • Publication number: 20120143530
    Abstract: A portable device, a system and a method measure a volume of a vessel, such as, for example, an expandable bag and/or a pressurized vessel, using a light-emitting diode (LED) located within the portable device. A shaft which may extend from the portable device may be introduced into the vessel. The light emitted by the LED may travel through the shaft into the vessel, and light reflected by the interior of the vessel may travel through the shaft into the portable device. The shaft may be introduced into a container in which at least a portion of the vessel is located. The light emitted by the LED may travel through the shaft into the container, and light reflected by the interior of the container and/or the exterior of the vessel may travel through the shaft into the portable device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventor: Bradley W. Engstrand
  • Patent number: 8190404
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for analyzing airflow through a vehicle radiator and identifying how cooling openings in the vehicle affect airflow through the vehicle radiator. A plurality of pathlines each describing airflow through a vehicle front end and including a position identifier and velocity magnitude are computed. A plurality of intersection points are calculated to identify locations within a vehicle radiator that intersect with a generated pathline to identify pathlines from which air flows through the vehicle radiator. One or more elements are generated from the intersection points using a triangulation method, such as Delauney triangulation, so that the generated elements include intersection points as nodes and are non-overlapping. An airflow rate is calculated for each element based on the velocity magnitudes of the pathlines associated with the intersection points included in the element and the element area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas N. Ramsay, Kurt Zielinski
  • Publication number: 20120022803
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring utilization and waste of a natural resource, such as water. Data is received indicating natural resource consumption by a facility. An indication of at least one period of natural resource usage by the facility is received. Natural resource usage corresponding to utilization of the natural resource for a useful purpose. Quantities of the natural resource consumed by the facility during the at least one period of water usage is recorded as a utilized quantity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: IAN ABBOTT DONNELLY, Youssef Drissi, Tyrone W. Grandison, Colin G. Harrison, Kaan K. Katircioglu, Jurij R. Paraszczak
  • Publication number: 20120022804
    Abstract: A system in which a fluid flows characterized by a change with time in space. A preselected place in the system is monitored to collect data at two or more time points correlated to a system event. The data is indicative of a system parameter that varies with time as a function of at least two variables related to system wash-in and wash-out behavior. To select time points a calibration map is calculated using color hue indicative of wash-out and color intensity indicative of wash-in. A color coded output map is developed. The calibration map, the color coded output map and image are novel implementations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventor: Hadassa DEGANI
  • Publication number: 20120004865
    Abstract: A method for measuring the mean velocity (VH) of an extracorporeal blood fluid or infusion fluid, by means of retroinjection interferometry, comprises the step of emitting a first laser light beam (41), from the laser cavity (40) of a semiconductor laser source (60), reflection of a second laser beam (45) by the fluid (50) and consequent generation of interference with the first laser beam (41) inside the laser cavity (40), detection of the interference signal by a monitoring photodiode (46), and processing, by means of an electronic processing and control circuit (100), of the interference signal detected. The invention also comprises an apparatus (62) for implementing the method described and an extracorporeal circuit (58) comprising said apparatus. The invention also comprises a method for replacing a laser source in said apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: DATAMED SRL
    Inventors: Giampiero Porro, Roberto Pozzi, Alessandro Torinesi, Michele Norgia, Luigi Rovati
  • Publication number: 20120004864
    Abstract: The invention provides an optical measuring apparatus having a plurality of measuring sections each having a light irradiating section for irradiating light to specimens and a light receiving section for receiving optical data acquired by irradiating the light to the specimens and a flow rate calculating section for calculating flow rate values of the specimens based on a difference of measured times of the optical data measured by the plurality of measuring sections with respect to the specimens and a distance between the plurality of measuring sections. The optical measuring apparatus measures the optical data of the specimens by irradiating light to the specimens, i.e., the objects to be measured, dispersed within a sample fluid flowing through a flow passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ken Tsukii, Toru Takahashi, Jie Xu
  • Patent number: 8067760
    Abstract: A fluid flow control system using flow rate changes to extract additional information from an in-line flow sensor. The system provides the ability to determine a position of a movable flow sensor element of a flow sensor by illuminating a photosensitive pixel array with a light source to create a first set of pixel intensity values introducing an abrupt change to the fluid driving pressure, illuminating the photosensitive pixel array with a light source to create a second set of pixel intensity values, and calculating the difference between the first and second sets of pixel intensity values as a function of pixel position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Fluidnet Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Carlisle, Charles E. Kramer, John M. Kirkman, Jr., Douglas E. Vincent
  • Publication number: 20110246094
    Abstract: The invention comprises a turbulence sensor and sensor system for determining the condition of a wind turbine blade. A turbulence sensor comprises a sensor membrane provided in the surface of a wind turbine blade. A light source and light detector provided in a sensor cavity in the blade illuminate the sensor membrane and detect the light reflected back. The reflected light is mixed with non-reflected light to give an interference pattern indicative of the quality of the airflow, whether it is laminar or turbulent. The turbulence sensor can be used in a sensor system for detecting the accumulation of unwanted matter, such as dirt or ice, on the blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventor: Ib Olesen
  • Publication number: 20110213573
    Abstract: A flow meter for monitoring fluid flow through a pipeline, the flow meter comprising a conduit having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet for communication with respective sections of the pipeline; a target element positioned inside the conduit between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, the target element being mounted for resilient axial displacement under a pressure differential between the inlet and the outlet; an arm secured at an anchor point on one side of the conduit and extending radially across the conduit, the target element being coupled to the arm for applying a load to the arm, upon said axial displacement of the target element, so as to deflect the arm relative to the anchor point; a sensor arrangement for measuring deflection of the arm at a point on the opposite side of the applied load to the anchor point; and a processor configured for providing a signal representative of the steam flow through the conduit in response to said measured deflection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: SPIRAX-SARCO LIMITED
    Inventors: Richard Quentin Carmichael, Roger Manley, Ben Frisby
  • Publication number: 20110196625
    Abstract: Various methods of metering a multi-phase composition in a pipe using patch antenna(s), that operate in a radio or microwave frequency range, are disclosed including locating and then exciting the patch antenna(s) over a range of frequencies; measuring transmitted and reflected signals over time; estimating a shift in a resonant frequency from a baseline resonant frequency; then calculating a permittivity of the composition, based on the shift; and calculating a phase composition of the multi-phase composition. The present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiment(s), and it is recognized that equivalents, alternatives, and modifications, aside from those expressly stated, are possible and within the scope of the appending claims.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Aparna Chakrapani Sheila-Vadde, Prafull Sharma, Manoj Kumar Koyithitta Meethal, Mandar Diwakar Godbole
  • Publication number: 20110172935
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a system for determining forces which act on a body with a controlled volume which is provided inside the flow tunnel and in which the body is arranged. A first measuring means is used to measure a pressure distribution for each surface defining the controlled volume. A second measuring means measures a velocity field for each defining surface of the controlled volume. Furthermore, a calculation unit is provided for calculating the forces acting on the body as a function of the pressure distributions and velocity fields measured for the defining surfaces of the controlled volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Winfried Kuehn, Klaus-Peter Neitzke, Andreas Schroeder, Eric Wilhelmus Maria Roosenboom
  • Publication number: 20110153231
    Abstract: In a method and a device for phase-sensitive flow measurement of a volume segment of an examination subject in a measurement system, the volume segment is divided into multiple partial volume segments and the following steps are executed repeatedly until the volume segment has been completely measured: movement of a table such that a center of one of the partial volume segments to be measured essentially corresponds to the isocenter of the magnetic resonance system, and implementation of the phase-sensitive flow measurement for the partial volume segment to be measured while the center of the partial volume segment essentially corresponds to the isocenter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Andreas Greiser, Edgar Mueller, Michael Zenge
  • Publication number: 20110106397
    Abstract: Provided is a fluid measuring device for measuring flow speed of a fluid in detail. A fluid measuring device (10) is provided with a plurality of detecting sections (30, 40) and a calculating section (50). The detecting sections are arranged with a space in between on a pipe line (22) wherein a fluid flows, and the detecting sections detect parameters which change corresponding to a change of the state of the fluid. The calculating section calculates the flow speed of the fluid, based on the time shift (?T) of the parameter change detected by the pair of detecting sections and on a distance (L) along the pipe line of the pair of detecting sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Muta, Masazumi Tanoura, Atsushi Takita, Daishi Ueno, Tadashi Aoki, Mitsunobu Sekiya
  • Publication number: 20110087447
    Abstract: Fluid flows through a conduit. To measure flow speed the fluid is heated at a heating location in the conduit with a time-dependent heating strength. A speed of sound in fluid flowing in the conduit is measured at a plurality of sensing locations downstream from said heating location. The flow speed of the fluid is determined from a delay with which the time dependence is detected in the sound speeds measured at said sensing locations. In an embodiment a frequency of the variation of heating strength that is used to determine the flow speed is selected automatically dependent on the flow speed and/or other circumstances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Inventors: Arno Willem Frederik Volker, Leon Ferdinand Gerard Geers, Huibert Blokland, Theodoor Peter Martijn Hunter
  • Publication number: 20110029261
    Abstract: Provided is a fluid measurement device and the like for measuring flow velocity of a fluid in detail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: Kenji Muta, Masazumi Tanoura, Atsushi Takita, Daishi Ueno, Tadashi Aoki, Mitsunobu Sekiya, Hikaru Tsukakoshi, Kiyoshi Mine