초록 ▼

Apparatus and method for measuring one or more fluid flow rates in a gas and liquid multiphase system, in which the multiphase flow is separated in-line into, gas and liquid flows, measurements on the liquid and/or gas streams are taken in the region immediately following the separation, the flows a

Apparatus and method for measuring one or more fluid flow rates in a gas and liquid multiphase system, in which the multiphase flow is separated in-line into, gas and liquid flows, measurements on the liquid and/or gas streams are taken in the region immediately following the separation, the flows are recombined to form a substantially homogenous mixture and further measurements on the mixture are taken.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A flow meter system, for measuring one or more fluid flow rates in a gas and liquid multiphase system, comprising: means for in-line separation of a multiphase flow into at least a gas flow and a liquid flow in a first separation region in a pipe; means for measuring sa

The invention claimed is: 1. A flow meter system, for measuring one or more fluid flow rates in a gas and liquid multiphase system, comprising: means for in-line separation of a multiphase flow into at least a gas flow and a liquid flow in a first separation region in a pipe; means for measuring said liquid and said gas flows in a second measurement region immediately following said first separation region; means for recombining said liquid and said gas flows into a substantially homogeneous mixture; means for taking further measurements on said substantially homogenous mixture following said means for recombining, whereby said flow meter system enables a flow rate measurement over a range of gas volume fractions, particularly higher gas volume fractions with improved accuracy; said means for in-line separation, further comprises: means for separating said multiphase flow into a core of gas and a film of liquid on an internal wall of said pipe; and said means for measuring said liquid and said gas flows further comprises: means for measuring a set of properties of said liquid flow and for enabling a calculation of a total liquid max flux there from. 2. A flow meter system, for measuring one or more fluid flow rates in a gas and liquid multiphase system, comprising: means for in-line separation of a multiphase flow into at least a gas flow and a liquid flow in a first separation region in a pipe; means for measuring said liquid and said gas flows in a second measurement region immediately following said first separation region; means for recombining said liquid and said gas flows into a substantially homogeneous mixture; means for taking further measurements on said substantially homogenous mixture following said means for recombining, whereby said flow meter system enables a flow rate measurement over a range of gas volume fractions, particularly higher gas volume fractions with improved accuracy; said means for in-line separation, further comprises: means for separating said multiphase flow into a core of gas and a film of liquid on an internal wall of said pipe; means for measuring a thickness of said film of liquid on said internal wall of said pipe; and said means for measuring a thickness is selected from a group comprising: gamma ray densitometry, conductance, ultrasonics, and fluorescence. 3. A flow meter system, for measuring one or more fluid flow rates in a gas and liquid multiphase system, comprising: means for in-line separation of a multiphase flow into at least a gas flow and a liquid flow in a first separation region in a pipe; means for measuring said liquid and said gas flows in a second measurement region immediately following said first separation region; means for recombining said liquid and said gas flows into a substantially homogeneous mixture; means for taking further measurements on said substantially homogenous mixture following said means for recombining, whereby said flow meter system enables a flow rate measurement over a range of gas volume fractions, particularly higher gas volume fractions with improved accuracy; said means for in-line separation of a multiphase flow further comprises: at least an initial twisted tape device; and said means for recombining said liquid and said gas flows into a substantially homogeneous mixture, further comprises: expansion-contraction device means for initiating said recombination. 4. A flow meter, for measuring one or more fluid flow rates in a gas and liquid multiphase system, comprising: means for phase separation in which said multiphase flow is separated in-line into annular gas and liquid flows within the same pipe; first measurement means for taking measurements of at least one of said liquid and said gas flows in a region immediately following the separation wherein the flow is separated into said annular gas and said liquid flows in said same pipe; means for recombining said liquid and said gas flows into a substantially homogeneous mixture downstream of said measurement means; and second measurement means for taking measurements on said substantially homogenous mixture, characterized in that said first measurement means are located before said means for recombining means and measures properties of at least one of said liquid and said gas streams while they are separate annular flows; and a thickness of a liquid film on an internal wall of said pipe is measured by at least one of a means of gamma ray densitometry, conductance, ultrasonics, and fluorescence. 5. A flow meter, according to claim 4, in which said liquid film is a single phase. 6. A flow meter, according to claim 5, in which said single phase is one of an aqueous phase and a hydrocarbon phase. 7. A flow meter, according to claim 4, in which the liquid film consists of two phases. 8. A flow meter, according to claim 7, in which said two phases are an aqueous phase and a hydrocarbon phase. 9. A flow meter, according to claim 8, in which said phase separation means comprises a twisted tape device. 10. A flow meter, according to claim 8, in which said recombination of said gas and liquid phases is initiated by an expansion contraction device. 11. A flow meter, according to claim 8, in which said second measurement means further comprises a venturi for measurement of the properties of the mixed stream. 12. A flow meter, according to claim 8, in which said multiphase stream has a liquid volume fraction of less than 10%. 13. A flow meter, according to claim 12, in which the multiphase stream has a liquid volume fraction of less than 5%.