초록 ▼

A method and apparatus for monitoring in real time the mass and energy flow rate of a gas through a pipeline. The invention determines the ratio of the mass flow rate of pipeline gas flowing through a pipeline compared to the mass flow rate of sample gas tapped from the pipeline line. The invention

A method and apparatus for monitoring in real time the mass and energy flow rate of a gas through a pipeline. The invention determines the ratio of the mass flow rate of pipeline gas flowing through a pipeline compared to the mass flow rate of sample gas tapped from the pipeline line. The invention involves tapping sample gas from the pipeline and flowing the sample gas to a capillary tube or a similar device for creating a pressure differential in a small flow. The sample gas is maintained at substantially the same temperature as the gas in the pipeline while the sample gas is in the capillary tube. The sample gas flows through the capillary tube continuously as controlled by a flow controller at a rate that is independent of the pipeline gas flow rate. A differential pressure cell measures the pressure differential of the sample gas across the capillary tube and also measures the pressure differential of the pipeline gas across an orifice in the pipeline. The mass flow ratio of the pipeline gas flowing through the pipeline to the sample gas flowing through the capillary tube is computed using the pressure differentials measured by the differential pressure cell. The energy content of the pipeline gas is determined by measuring the energy content of the sample gas and relating that value to the mass flow ratio of the pipeline gas compared to the sample gas. If the sample gas is a saturated hydrocarbon and is burned with air at maximum flame temperature, the energy content of the pipeline gas stream is mathematically related to the mass flow rate of the air and the mass flow ratio of the pipeline gas compared to the sample gas.

대표청구항 ▼

An apparatus for measuring a ratio of a mass flow rate of a pipeline gas flowing through a pipeline compared to a mass flow rate of a sample gas tapped from the pipeline, the pipeline having a first device means for producing a pipeline gas pressure differential, the apparatus comprising: a second d

An apparatus for measuring a ratio of a mass flow rate of a pipeline gas flowing through a pipeline compared to a mass flow rate of a sample gas tapped from the pipeline, the pipeline having a first device means for producing a pipeline gas pressure differential, the apparatus comprising: a second device means for producing a sample gas pressure differential while maintaining the sample gas at substantially the same temperature as the pipeline gas; means for routing the sample gas to the second device means; means for measuring the pipeline gas pressure differential as the pipeline gas flows through the first device means; means for measuring the sample gas pressure differential as the sample gas flows through the second device means; a flow controlling means located downstream of the second device means for maintaining a sample gas flow rate through the second device means independent of the pipeline gas pressure differential; and a control means for comparing the sample gas pressure differential with the pipeline gas pressure differential in order to obtain the mass flow rate ratio. A method for measuring a mass flow rate ratio of a pipeline gas through a pipeline compared to a sample gas tapped from the pipeline, the method comprising the steps: measuring a pipeline gas pressure differential as the pipeline gas flows across a first device located within the pipeline for producing the pipeline gas pressure differential; flowing the sample gas to a second device for producing a sample gas pressure differential; maintaining the temperature of the sample gas in the second device at substantially the same temperature as the pipeline gas in the pipeline; maintaining a substantially constant sample gas mass flow rate through the second device independent of the pipeline gas pressure differential; measuring the sample gas pressure differential as the sample gas flows across the second device; and determining the mass flow rate ratio by comparing the pipeline gas pressure differential to the sample gas pressure differential.