Patent · US Active

Total gas meter using speed of sound and velocity measurements

US7617716B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
39References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 13, 2007
Grant dateNov 17, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 12, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N2291/048
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for measuring total gas content of a fluid flowing through a process line. The apparatus comprises a bleed line in fluid communication with the process line for bleeding a portion of the fluid from the process line at a bleed line pressure that is lower than the process line pressure. A speed of sound propagating through the fluid in the bleed line is determined and is, in turn, used to determine a gas volume fraction of the fluid in the bleed line. In one aspect, the total gas content of the fluid flowing through the process line is calculated as a function of the gas volume fraction of the fluid in the bleed line and a velocity of the fluid in the bleed line. In another aspect, the velocity of the fluid in the bleed line is adjusted to be approximately equal to a predetermined velocity. In yet another aspect, dissolved gas in the process fluid 13 is released before the gas content measurement point by applying a high intensity ultrasonic field to the fluid 13.

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