System for measuring a multiphase flow

Abstract

System for measuring a multiphase flow ( 109 ) and the flow velocity comprises: multiple wavelength source ( 101 ); multiplexer ( 103 ); first fibre optic probe ( 107 ) for transmitting optical signals into the multiphase flow and collecting reflected signals; second fibre optic probe ( 111 ) for collecting transmitted signals passing through the multiphase flow; optical circulators ( 105, 113 ) interconnected with the probes ( 107,111 ) for bidirectional transmission of the signals; a filtering device ( 114 ) such as a fibre Bragg grating for filtering the signals; wherein the collected reflected and transmitted signals are used to develop an image representation of the multiphase flow data, for example, via an image processing system ( 125 ). A reference signal may also be transmitted directly from the multiplexer ( 103 ) to the image processing system ( 125 ).

1 . A system for measuring a multiphase flow comprising:
 a multiplexing device for multiplexing an optical source into optical signals with different wavelengths for transmission into the multiphase flow;   at least a first fiber optic probe for transmitting the optical signals into the multiphase flow and collecting reflected signals;   at least a second fiber optic probe for collecting the optical signals passing through the multiphase flow;   optical circulators with a plurality of ports interconnected with the probes for bi-directional transmission of the signals; and   a filtering device for filtering the signals;   
       wherein the collected optical signals are used to develop an image representation of the multiphase flow. 
     
     
         2 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The system for measuring a multiphase flow according to  claim 1 , wherein the image representation of the multiphase flow is developed by an image processing system. 
     
     
         27 . The system for measuring a multiphase flow according to  claim 26 , wherein the image processing system includes photodiodes for converting the optical signals into electrical signals. 
     
     
         28 . The system for measuring a multiphase flow according to  claim 1 , wherein the fiber optic probes are arranged around a pipe where the multiphase flow passes through. 
     
     
         29 . The system for measuring a multiphase flow according to  claim 1 , wherein the first fiber optic probe is arranged to align with and face the second fiber optic probe. 
     
     
         30 . The system for measuring a multiphase flow according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the fiber optic probes includes a collimator positioned normal to a pipe surface. 
     
     
         31 . The system for measuring a multiphase flow according to  claim 1 , further comprising an optical source directed to the multiplexing device. 
     
     
         32 . The system for measuring a multiphase flow according to  claim 1 , wherein the multiplexing device is connected to a first optical circulator via a first port. 
     
     
         33 . The system for measuring a multiphase flow according to  claim 32 , wherein the first optical circulator is connected to the first fiber optic probe via a second port. 
     
     
         34 . The system for measuring a multiphase flow according to  claim 33 , wherein the first optical circulator is connected to an image processing system via a third port for directing reflected signals to an image processing system. 
     
     
         35 . The system for measuring a multiphase flow according to  claim 32 , wherein the second fiber optic probe is connected to a second optical circulator via a first port for directing optical signals to the filtering device at a second port. 
     
     
         36 . The system for measuring a multiphase flow according to  claim 35 , wherein the filtered signals from the filtering device are directed to an image processing system via a third port of the second optical circulator. 
     
     
         37 . The system for measuring a multiphase flow data according to  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises at least an optical amplifier for amplifying the optical signals and at least an optical splitter for splitting the amplified optical signals into multiple portions of signals. 
     
     
         38 . The system for measuring a multiphase flow according to  claim 37 , wherein the optical amplifier is connected to the optical splitter. 
     
     
         39 . The system for measuring a multiphase flow according to  claim 37 , further comprising an optical source directed to the multiplexing device. 
     
     
         40 . The system for measuring a multiphase flow according to  claim 37 , wherein the multiplexing device is connected to the optical amplifier. 
     
     
         41 . The system for measuring a multiphase flow according to  claim 37 , wherein the optical splitter is connected to a first optical circulator via a first port for directing a first portion of the signals. 
     
     
         42 . The system for measuring a multiphase flow according to  claim 41 , wherein the optical splitter is connected to an image processing system for directing a second portion of the signals. 
     
     
         43 . The system for measuring a multiphase flow, according to  claim 41  wherein a first optical circulator is connected to the first fibre optic probe via a second port. 
     
     
         44 . The system for measuring a multiphase flow according to  claim 43 , wherein the first optical circulator is connected to the image processing system via a third port. 
     
     
         45 . The system for measuring a multiphase flow according to  claim 42  wherein the first portion of the signals is for transmission to the multiphase flow and the second portion is for reference of the image processing system. 
     
     
         46 . The system for measuring a multiphase flow according to  claim 1 , wherein the multiplexing device is an arrayed waveguide grating device. 
     
     
         47 . The system for measuring a multiphase flow according to  claim 1 , wherein the filtering device is a fibre Bragg grating device. 
     
     
         48 . A system for measuring a multiphase flow according to  claim 31 , wherein the optical source is an amplified spontaneous emission broadband light. 
     
     
         49 . A system for measuring a multiphase flow comprising, at least two systems according to  claim 1 , wherein the systems are placed at two different locations along a pipe for measuring velocity of a flow through the pipe.