Patent · US Active

Tomography apparatus, multi-phase flow monitoring system, and corresponding methods

US10732017B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
10References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 15, 2015
Grant dateAug 4, 2020
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 5, 2037

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N33/2823
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A flow monitoring system is described for monitoring flow of a mixed-phase sample comprising at least a first phase and a second phase having different electrical conductivities, the second phase being a liquid or a gas and substantially electrically non-conductive and the first phase being a liquid and having a conductivity higher than the second phase. The system comprises: a conduit through which the mixed-phase sample can be arranged to flow; tomography apparatus arranged to generate tomography data indicative of at least a first conductivity profile of at least a portion of a first cross section of the mixed phase sample when flowing through the conduit; a flow meter arranged to detect flow of the first phase though the conduit and provide a flow signal indicative of a flow velocity of the first phase; and processing means adapted to calculate, from said data, a fraction of said first cross section occupied by the first phase, and calculate, from said fraction and said flow signal, a volumetric flow rate of the first phase through the conduit.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.