Mini-spinner flowmeter and downhole tool comprising an array of mini-spinner flowmeters for operation in hydrocarbon well
US11131570B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 4, 2019 |
| Grant date | Sep 28, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 4, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01P13/045
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A mini-spinner flowmeter measures a fluid linear velocity and/or a fluid direction of a fluid present in a hydrocarbon well. It comprises an impeller formed with a plurality of axially extending vanes longitudinally secured to a shaft, the shaft extending along a longitudinal axis, the impeller being caused to rotate at an impeller angular velocity depending on the fluid linear velocity and in a rotational direction depending on the fluid direction; and a support having a bearing positioned on each end of the shaft and a through-hole securing an optical section. The vanes are reflective such that, in use, a light energy emitted by an emitting optical fiber and reflected backward by anyone of the vanes is received by a first receiving optical fiber and/or a second receiving optical fiber, the reflected light energy containing information indicative of the fluid linear velocity and/or the fluid direction.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.