Apparatus and method for measuring two- or three-phase fluid flow utilizing one or more momentum flow meters and a volumetric flow meter

Abstract

An apparatus and method for measuring the flow rates of each component of two-phase flow consisting of a gas and a liquid or three-phase flow consisting of water, oil and gas, including a first volumetric flow meter stage, and second and third momentum flow meter stages coupled in a series flow path with the volumetric flow meter stage and in which a velocity ratio between the gas and the liquid in the series flow path is maintained to be one. A processor calculates flow rates of the components of flow by solving volumetric flow and momentum or energy equations defining flow through the first through third stages utilizing a volumetric flow output from the first stage and momentum flux outputs from said second and third stages, and an indicator displays flow of liquid and gas or oil, water and gas components of the flow. To measure three-phase flow, a water-cut meter is provided to determine the amount of water flow, which is then used by the processor to determine the flow of the rest of the liquid. The second and third momentum flow meter stages can be implemented by two separate momentum flow meters or by a single momentum flow meter, such as a venturi flow meter having a venturi nozzle including pressure taps for obtaining at least two differential pressure measurements. In the event that the density of the liquid component is known, a single momentum flow meter stage is sufficient.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for measuring flow rates of gas and liquid components in a fluid flowing in a flow path, comprising: .Iadd.a. .Iaddend.volumetric flow meter .[.means for.]. .Iadd.capable of .Iaddend.measuring a total flow rate for .[.said.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.fluid and .Iadd.further capable of .Iaddend.outputting a corresponding total flow rate signal;   .Iadd.b. .Iaddend.first and second momentum flow .[.meter means.]. .Iadd.meters .Iaddend.coupled in series in said flow path with said volumetric flow meter .[.means.]. for measuring the momentum flux of .[.said.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.fluid and outputting respective first and second .[.momentum.]. signals .Iadd.indicative of fluid momentum.Iaddend.; .Iadd.and   c. a .Iaddend.processor .[.means.]. coupled to .Iadd.receive signals output by .Iaddend.said volumetric flow meter .[.means.]. and said first and second momentum flow .[.meter means for.]. .Iadd.meters, said processor capable of .Iaddend.determining the flow rate of a gas component and the flow rate of a liquid component .[.by solving predetermined equations for total flow and momentum or energy utilizing said total flow rate signal and said first and second momentum signals; and   indicator means for displaying the determined flow rates of said liquid and gas components.]..   
     
     
       2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: .[.means.]. .Iadd.device .Iaddend.for forcing a known velocity ratio between said gas component and said liquid component in said flow path.   
     
     
       3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said forcing .[.means.]. .Iadd.device .Iaddend.comprises: at least one of a static mixer or a dynamic mixer.   
     
     
       4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said forcing .[.means.]. .Iadd.device .Iaddend.comprises: first and second mixers respectively coupled in series at an input and an output of said volumetric flow meter.   
     
     
       5. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said volumetric flow meter .[.means and said flow shaping means.]. comprise.Iadd.s.Iaddend.: a positive displacement flow meter.   
     
     
       6. An apparatus according to .[.claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5.]. .Iadd.claim 1.Iaddend., wherein said first and second momentum flow .[.meter means.]. .Iadd.meters .Iaddend.comprise: first and second venturi flow meters having different throat dimensions.   
     
     
       7. An apparatus according to claim.[.s.]. 1 .[., 2, 3, 4 or 5,.]. wherein said first and second momentum flow meter means comprise: a venturi flow meter having a .Iadd.single .Iaddend.venturi nozzle including plural pressure measuring taps .Iadd.connected to two or more pressure measuring devices.Iaddend..   
     
     
       8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second momentum flow .[.meter means.]. .Iadd.meters .Iaddend.comprise: a drag-disk flow meter having different paddle dimensions.   
     
     
       9. An apparatus according to .[.claims 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5.]. .Iadd.claim 1.Iaddend., further comprising: .Iadd.a. a .Iaddend.water-cut meter .[.means.]. for measuring an amount of water in said liquid component and outputting a corresponding water-cut signal;   .Iadd.b. .Iaddend.said processor .[.means comprising means for.]. .Iadd.coupled to receive a signal output by said water-cut meter and capable of .Iaddend.determining flow rates of a gas constituent, a water constituent, and a further constituent of said liquid component based on said water-cut signal and the determined liquid and gas flow rates; and   .Iadd.c. .Iaddend..[.said.]. .Iadd.an .Iaddend.indicator .[.means comprising means for.]. .Iadd.capable of .Iaddend.displaying the determining flow rates of said water constituent and said further constituent.   
     
     
       10. An apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: .Iadd.a. a .Iaddend.water-cut meter .[.means.]. for measuring an amount of water in said liquid component and outputting a corresponding water-cut signal;   .Iadd.b. .Iaddend.said processor .[.means comprising means for.]. .Iadd.coupled to receive a signal output by said water-cut meter and capable of .Iaddend.determining flow rates of a gas constituent, a water constituent, and a further constituent of said liquid component in said fluid based on said water-cut signal and the determined liquid and gas flow rates; and   .Iadd.c. .Iaddend..[.said.]. .Iadd.an .Iaddend.indicator .[.means comprising means for.]. .Iadd.capable of .Iaddend.displaying the determined flow rates of said water constituent and said further constituent.   
     
     
       11. An apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: .Iadd.a. a .Iaddend.water-cut meter .[.means.]. for measuring an amount of water in said liquid component and outputting a corresponding water-cut signal;   .Iadd.b. .Iaddend.said processor .[.means comprising means for.]. .Iadd.coupled to receive a signal output by said water-cut meter and capable of .Iaddend.determining flow rates of a gas constituent, a water constituent, and a further constituent of said liquid component in said fluid based on said water-cut signal and the determined liquid and gas flow rates; and   .Iadd.c. .Iaddend..[.said.]. .Iadd.an .Iaddend.indicator .[.means comprising means for.]. .Iadd.capable of .Iaddend.displaying the determined flow rates of said water constituent and said further constituent.   
     
     
       12. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: .Iadd.a. .Iaddend..[.means for.]. .Iadd.a device capable of .Iaddend.measuring a pressure drop across the series flow path of said volumetric flow meter .[.means.]. and said first and second momentum flow .[.meter means.]. .Iadd.meters .Iaddend.and producing a corresponding pressure drop signal;   .Iadd.b. .Iaddend.memory .[.means.]. for storing a table of differential pressure drops as a function of plural values of air flow rate and water flow rate through said series flow path;   .Iadd.c. .Iaddend..[.means.]. .Iadd.device .Iaddend.for selecting from said table stored in said memory .[.means.]. a corresponding differential pressure drop based on the measured gas and liquid flow rates;   .Iadd.d. .Iaddend..[.means.]. .Iadd.device .Iaddend.for calculating a pressure drop ratio of said pressure drop signal and the selected differential pressure drop and outputting a corresponding pressure drop ratio signal; and   .Iadd.e. .Iaddend..[.means.]. .Iadd.device .Iaddend.for multiplying said pressure drop ratio signal with a predetermined signal indicative of a pressure drop of an air/water mixture through a different flow path to determine a pressure drop of said fluid in said different flow path.   
     
     
       13. An apparatus for measuring flow rates of a gas component and a liquid component having a known density in a fluid flowing in a series flow path, comprising: .Iadd.a. .Iaddend.volumetric flow meter .[.means.]. for measuring a total flow rate for said fluid and outputting a corresponding total flow rate signal;   .Iadd.b. a .Iaddend.momentum flow meter .[.means.]. coupled in series in said flow path with said volumetric flow meter .[.means.]. for measuring the momentum flux of said fluid and outputting a corresponding momentum signal;   .Iadd.c. .Iaddend.processor .[.means.]. coupled to said volumetric flow meter .[.means.]. and said momentum flow meter .[.means.]. for determining the flow rate of said gas component and the flow rate of said liquid component by solving predetermined equations for total flow and momentum or energy utilizing said total flow rate signal and said momentum signal;   .Iadd.d. .Iaddend..[.means.]. .Iadd.device .Iaddend.for measuring a pressure drop across the series flow path of said volumetric flow meter .[.means.]. and said momentum flow meter .[.means.]. and producing a corresponding pressure drop signal;   .Iadd.e. .Iaddend.memory .[.means.]. for storing a table of differential pressure drops as a function of plural values of air flow rate and water flow rate through said series flow path;   .Iadd.f. .Iaddend..[.means.]..Iadd.device .Iaddend.for selecting from said table stored in said memory means a corresponding differential pressure drop based on the measured gas and liquid flow rates;   .Iadd.g. .Iaddend..[.means.]. .Iadd.device .Iaddend.for calculating a pressure drop ratio of said pressure drop signal and the selected differential pressure drop and outputting a corresponding pressure drop ratio signal; and   .Iadd.h. .Iaddend..[.means.]. .Iadd.device .Iaddend.for multiplying said pressure drop ratio signal with a predetermined signal indicative of a pressure drop of a known mixture through a different flow path to determine a pressure drop of said fluid in said different flow path.   
     
     
       14. An apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising: .[.means.]. .Iadd.device .Iaddend.for forcing a known velocity ratio between said gas component and said liquid component in said flow path.   
     
     
       15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said forcing .[.means.]. .Iadd.device .Iaddend.comprises: first and second mixes respectively coupled in series at an input and an output of said volumetric flow meter.   
     
     
       16. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said volumetric flow meter .[.means.]. and said forcing .[.means.]. .Iadd.device .Iaddend.comprise: a positive displacement flow meter.   
     
     
       17. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said momentum flow meter .[.means.]. comprises: a venturi flow meter.   
     
     
       18. An apparatus according to .[.claims 13, 14, 15 or 16.]. .Iadd.claim 13.Iaddend., further comprising: .Iadd.a. a .Iaddend.water-cut meter .[.means.]. for measuring an amount of water in said liquid component and outputting a corresponding water-cut signal;   .Iadd.b. .Iaddend.said processor .[.means.]. comprising .[.means.]. .Iadd.device .Iaddend.for determining flow rates of a gas constituent, a water constituent, and a further constituent of said liquid component based on said water-cut signal and the determined liquid and gas flow rates; and   .Iadd.c. .Iaddend..[.means.]. .Iadd.device .Iaddend.for displaying the determined flow rates of said water constituent and said further constituent.   
     
     
       19. A method for measuring flow rates of gas and liquid components in a fluid flowing in a series flow path, comprising: .Iadd.a. .Iaddend.measuring a total flow rate in said flow path and outputting a corresponding total flow rate signal;   .Iadd.b. .Iaddend.measuring the momentum flux of said fluid at first and second points in said series flow path and outputting respective first and second .[.momentum.]. signals .Iadd.indicative of fluid momentum.Iaddend.;   .Iadd.c. .Iaddend.determining the flow rate of said gas component and the flow rate of said liquid component .[.by solving predetermined equations for total flow and momentum or energy.]. utilizing said total flow rate signal and said first and second .[.momentum.]. signals.[.; and.]. .Iadd.indicative of fluid momentum; .Iaddend.   .[.displaying the determined flow rates of said liquid and gas components.]..   
     
     
       20. A method according to claim 19, further comprising: forcing a known velocity ratio between said gas component and said liquid component in said flow path.   
     
     
       21. A method according to .[.claims.]. .Iadd.claim .Iaddend.19 .[.or 20.]., further comprising: .Iadd.a. .Iaddend.measuring an amount of water in said liquid component and outputting a corresponding water-cut signal;   .Iadd.b. .Iaddend.determining flow rates of a gas constituent, a water constituent, and a further constituent of said liquid component in said fluid based on said water-cut signal and the determined liquid and gas flow rates.[.; and   displaying the determined flow rates of said water constituent and said further constituent.]..   
     
     
       22. A method according to claim 20, further comprising: .Iadd.a. .Iaddend.measuring a pressure drop across said series flow path and producing a corresponding pressure drop signal;   .Iadd.b. .Iaddend.storing .[.a table of.]. differential pressure .[.drops.]. .Iadd.drop data .Iaddend.as a function of plural values of said flow rate and water flow rate through said series flow path;   .Iadd.c. .Iaddend.selecting from the stored .[.table.]. .Iadd.data .Iaddend.a corresponding differential pressure drop based on the measured gas and liquid flow rates;   .Iadd.d. .Iaddend.calculating a pressure drop ratio of said pressure drop signal and the selected differential pressure drop and outputting a corresponding pressure drop ratio signal; and   .Iadd.e. .Iaddend.multiplying said pressure drop ratio signal with a predetermined signal indicative of a pressure drop of an air/water mixture through a different flow path to determine a pressure drop of said fluid in said different flow path.   
     
     
       23. A method of measuring flow rates of a gas component and a liquid component having a known density in a fluid flowing in a series flow path, comprising: .Iadd.a. .Iaddend.measuring a total flow rate in said flow path and outputting a corresponding total flow rate signal;   .Iadd.b. .Iaddend.measuring the momentum flux of said fluid in said series flow path and outputting a corresponding .[.momentum.]. signal .Iadd.indicative of fluid momentum.Iaddend.;   .Iadd.c. .Iaddend.determining the flow rate of said gas component and the flow rate of said liquid component by solving predetermined equations for total flow and momentum or energy utilizing said total flow rate signal and said .[.momentum signals.]. .Iadd.signal.Iaddend.;   .Iadd.d. .Iaddend.measuring a pressure drop across said series flow path and producing a corresponding pressure drop signal;   .Iadd.e. .Iaddend.storing .[.a table of.]. differential pressure .[.drops.]. .Iadd.drop data .Iaddend.as a function of plural values of said flow rate and water flow rate through said series flow path;   .Iadd.f. .Iaddend.selecting from the stored .[.table.]. .Iadd.data .Iaddend.a corresponding differential pressure drop based on the measured gas and liquid flow rates;   .Iadd.g. .Iaddend.calculating a pressure drop ratio of said pressure drop signal and the selected differential pressure drop and outputting a corresponding pressure drop ratio signal; and   .Iadd.h. .Iaddend.multiplying said pressure drop signal with a predetermined signal indicative of a pressure drop of a known mixture through a different flow path to determine a pressure drop of said fluid in said different flow path.   
     
     
       24. A method according to claim 23, further comprising: forcing a known velocity ratio between said gas component and said liquid component in said flow path to be one.   
     
     
       25. A method according to .[.claims.]. .Iadd.claim .Iaddend.23 .[.or 22.]., further comprising: .Iadd.a. .Iaddend.measuring an amount of water in said liquid component and outputting a corresponding water-cut signal;   .Iadd.b. .Iaddend.determining flow rates of a gas constituent, a water constituent, and a further constituent of said liquid component in said fluid based on said water-cut signal and the determined liquid and gas flow rates; and   .Iadd.c. .Iaddend.displaying the determined flow rates of said water constituent and said further constituent.