A method and apparatus for measuring the flow rate of bitumen froth through a pipeline is provided. A flow meter device is provided including a conduit comprising an approach section having a diameter less than the diameter of the pipeline and a venturi section having in series a converging section,
A method and apparatus for measuring the flow rate of bitumen froth through a pipeline is provided. A flow meter device is provided including a conduit comprising an approach section having a diameter less than the diameter of the pipeline and a venturi section having in series a converging section, a throat section and, optionally, a diverging section, the converging section of the venturi section being disposed relative to the approach section, and a means for measuring the pressure difference ΔP between two points that are separate from one another in the flow direction, one point being on the approach section and the other point being on the throat section. In one embodiment, a heating means for heating the conduit is provided.
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We claim: 1. A method for measuring the flow rate of a viscous fluid such as bitumen froth having a certain temperature through a pipeline having an inner diameter, comprising: providing a conduit comprising an approach section and a venturi section having in series a converging section and a throa
We claim: 1. A method for measuring the flow rate of a viscous fluid such as bitumen froth having a certain temperature through a pipeline having an inner diameter, comprising: providing a conduit comprising an approach section and a venturi section having in series a converging section and a throat section, the converging section of the venturi section being disposed relative to the approach section and the throat section having an inner diameter less than the inner diameter of the approach section; inserting the conduit into the pipeline or between two pieces of pipe comprising the pipeline; allowing the viscous fluid to flow through the pipeline and through the conduit; heating at least a portion of the conduit to a temperature of about the temperature of the viscous fluid or higher to reduce adherence of the viscous fluid to an inner wall of the conduit as it flows therethrough; and measuring the pressure difference ΔP between two points that are separate from one another in the flow direction, one point being on the approach section and the other point being on the throat section, to calculate the flow rate in the pipeline. 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, whereby the venturi section of the conduit further comprises a diverging section being disposed relative to the throat section. 3. A method as claimed in claim 1, whereby the conduit is heated by encasing the flow meter in an insulated heat-exchanging pipeline jacket. 4. A method as claimed in claim 1, whereby the conduit is heated by wrapping electrical heat tracing and insulation around at least the venturi section. 5. A method as claimed in claim 1, whereby when the conduit is inserted into the pipeline, the conduit is heated by heating the pipeline walls surrounding the conduit. 6. A method as claimed in claim 5, whereby the pipeline walls are heated by means of a heating jacket. 7. A method as claimed in claim 1, whereby the conduit is heated to a temperature in the range of about 35° C. to about 75° C. 8. A method as claimed in claim 1, whereby the conduit is heated to a temperature in the range of about 50° C. to about 75° C. 9. A method as claimed in claim 1, whereby, when the viscous fluid is flowing through the pipeline at a minimum velocity of about 0.5 m/sec, the inner diameter of the approach section is such that the viscous fluid velocity in the approach section is at least about 2 m/sec. 10. A method as claimed in claim 1, whereby the ratio of the inner diameter of the throat section to the inner diameter of the approach section is about 0.7. 11. A flow meter device for measuring the flow rate of a viscous fluid such as bitumen froth through a pipeline having an inner diameter, comprising: a conduit comprising an approach section having an inner diameter less than the inner diameter of the pipeline and a venturi section having in series a converging section and a throat section, the converging section of the venturi section being disposed relative to the approach section and the throat section having an inner diameter less than the inner diameter of the approach section; and a differential pressure measuring device for measuring the pressure difference ΔP between two points that are separate from one another in the flow direction, one point being on the approach section and the other point being on the throat section, whereby the pressure difference ΔP correlates to the flow rate of the viscous fluid through the pipeline. 12. A flow meter device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the venturi section further comprises a diverging section being disposed relative to the throat section. 13. A flow meter device as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a heating device for heating the conduit to reduce adherence of the viscous fluid to an inner wall of the conduit as it flows therethrough. 14. A flow meter device as claimed in claim 13, whereby the heating device comprises an insulated heat-exchanging jacket for encasing the conduit. 15. A flow meter device as claimed in claim 13, whereby the heating device comprises electrical heat tracing and insulation wrapped around the venturi section. 16. A flow meter device as claimed in claim 11, whereby the inner diameter of the approach section is such that the viscous fluid velocity in the approach section is 2 m/sec or greater at a minimum pipeline operating velocity of about 0.5 m/sec. 17. A flow meter device as claimed in claim 11, whereby the ratio of the inner diameter of the throat section to the inner diameter of the approach section is about 0.7. 18. A flow meter device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the free end of the approach section further comprises means for attaching the approach section to a pipe section and the free end of the throat section further comprises means for attaching the throat section to another pipe section. 19. A flow meter as claimed in claim 12, wherein the free end of the approach section further comprises means for attaching the approach section to a pipe section and the free end of the diverging section further comprises means for attaching the diverging section to another pipe section. 20. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the approach section has an inner diameter less than the inner diameter of the pipeline. 21. A flow meter device for measuring the flow rate of a viscous fluid through a pipeline having an inner diameter, comprising: a conduit comprising an approach section and a venturi section having in series a converging section and a throat section, the converging section of the venturi section being disposed relative to the approach section and the throat section having an inner diameter less than the inner diameter of the approach section; a differential pressure measuring device for measuring the pressure difference ΔP between two points that are separate from one another in the flow direction, one point being on the approach section and the other point being on the throat section; and a heating device for heating the conduit to reduce adherence of the viscous fluid to an inner wall of the conduit as the viscous fluid flows therethrough; whereby the pressure difference ΔP correlates to the flow rate of the viscous fluid through the pipeline. 22. A flow meter device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the venturi section further comprises a diverging section being disposed relative to the throat section. 23. A flow meter device as claimed in claim 21, whereby the heating device comprises an insulated heat-exchanging jacket for encasing the conduit. 24. A flow meter device as claimed in claim 21, whereby the heating device comprises electrical heat tracing and insulation wrapped around the venturi section. 25. A method for measuring the flow rate of a viscous fluid through a pipeline having an inner diameter, comprising: providing a conduit comprising an approach section having an inner diameter less than the inner diameter of the pipeline and a venturi section having in series a converging section and a throat section, the converging section of the venturi section being disposed relative to the approach section and the throat section having an inner diameter less than the inner diameter of the approach section; inserting the conduit into the pipeline or between two pieces of pipe comprising the pipeline; allowing the viscous fluid to flow through the pipeline and through the approach section of the conduit to increase the velocity of the viscous fluid; and measuring the pressure difference ΔP between two points that are separate from one another in the flow direction, one point being on the approach section and the other point being on the throat section, to calculate the flow rate in the pipeline. 26. The method as claimed in claim 25, whereby the venturi section further comprises a diverging section being disposed relative to the throat section.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (9)
Kozlak Martin J. (Tariffville CT), Annular venturi flow measuring device.
Boinet Abel (Pau FR) Mondeil Lucien (Serres Morlaas FR) Montay Jean-Louis (Pau FR), Instrument for the continuous measurement of viscosity, especially of bitumens.
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