Probe for measuring parameters of a flowing fluid and/or multiphase mixture
US7328624B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 10, 2003 |
| Grant date | Feb 12, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 10, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01F1/712
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
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. Frequency based sound speed is determined utilizing a dispersion model to determine the parameters of interest.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.