WO1993004343A1 - Nonintrusive flow sensing system - Google Patents

Nonintrusive flow sensing system Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1993004343A1
WO1993004343A1 PCT/US1991/005829 US9105829W WO9304343A1 WO 1993004343 A1 WO1993004343 A1 WO 1993004343A1 US 9105829 W US9105829 W US 9105829W WO 9304343 A1 WO9304343 A1 WO 9304343A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
conduit
flow stream
pressure
signal transit
temperature
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1991/005829
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Sarkis Barkhoudarian
Original Assignee
Rockwell International Corporation
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority to US07/539,417 priority Critical patent/US5040415A/en
Application filed by Rockwell International Corporation filed Critical Rockwell International Corporation
Priority to PCT/US1991/005829 priority patent/WO1993004343A1/en
Priority to EP91916176A priority patent/EP0598720B1/en
Priority to DE69118555T priority patent/DE69118555T2/en
Priority to JP03515099A priority patent/JP3110042B2/en
Priority to CA002104125A priority patent/CA2104125A1/en
Publication of WO1993004343A1 publication Critical patent/WO1993004343A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01P—MEASURING LINEAR OR ANGULAR SPEED, ACCELERATION, DECELERATION, OR SHOCK; INDICATING PRESENCE, ABSENCE, OR DIRECTION, OF MOVEMENT
    • G01P5/00—Measuring speed of fluids, e.g. of air stream; Measuring speed of bodies relative to fluids, e.g. of ship, of aircraft
    • G01P5/24—Measuring speed of fluids, e.g. of air stream; Measuring speed of bodies relative to fluids, e.g. of ship, of aircraft by measuring the direct influence of the streaming fluid on the properties of a detecting acoustical wave
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
    • G01F1/00—Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow
    • G01F1/66—Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow by measuring frequency, phase shift or propagation time of electromagnetic or other waves, e.g. using ultrasonic flowmeters
    • G01F1/667—Arrangements of transducers for ultrasonic flowmeters; Circuits for operating ultrasonic flowmeters
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01K—MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G01K11/00—Measuring temperature based upon physical or chemical changes not covered by groups G01K3/00, G01K5/00, G01K7/00 or G01K9/00
    • G01K11/22—Measuring temperature based upon physical or chemical changes not covered by groups G01K3/00, G01K5/00, G01K7/00 or G01K9/00 using measurement of acoustic effects
    • G01K11/24—Measuring temperature based upon physical or chemical changes not covered by groups G01K3/00, G01K5/00, G01K7/00 or G01K9/00 using measurement of acoustic effects of the velocity of propagation of sound
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01L—MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE
    • G01L11/00—Measuring steady or quasi-steady pressure of a fluid or a fluent solid material by means not provided for in group G01L7/00 or G01L9/00
    • G01L11/04—Measuring steady or quasi-steady pressure of a fluid or a fluent solid material by means not provided for in group G01L7/00 or G01L9/00 by acoustic means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01P—MEASURING LINEAR OR ANGULAR SPEED, ACCELERATION, DECELERATION, OR SHOCK; INDICATING PRESENCE, ABSENCE, OR DIRECTION, OF MOVEMENT
    • G01P5/00—Measuring speed of fluids, e.g. of air stream; Measuring speed of bodies relative to fluids, e.g. of ship, of aircraft
    • G01P5/24—Measuring speed of fluids, e.g. of air stream; Measuring speed of bodies relative to fluids, e.g. of ship, of aircraft by measuring the direct influence of the streaming fluid on the properties of a detecting acoustical wave
    • G01P5/245—Measuring speed of fluids, e.g. of air stream; Measuring speed of bodies relative to fluids, e.g. of ship, of aircraft by measuring the direct influence of the streaming fluid on the properties of a detecting acoustical wave by measuring transit time of acoustical waves

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to an improved system and method for detecting and monitoring fluid flow parameters such as liquid flow within a conduit. More particularly, this invention relates to a sensing system and method for measuring fluid flow velocity, temperature and pressure in a nonintrusive or noninvasive manner.
  • Fluid flow conduits are widely used in industrial processes and the like to deliver fluids in liquid or gaseous form from one location to another. In many instances, it is necessary or desirable to monitor the fluid flow to insure proper and/or safe operation of process equipment. As one example, in a nuclear power plant facility, it is necessary to monitor various liquid flow parameters such as flow rate, temperature, and pressure. Accordingly, in the prior art, a variety of flow monitoring devices and techniques ha*'-i been developed for this purpose. However, in general, these prior art devices and methods for monitoring fluid flows have utilized invasive temperature and/or pressure probes mounted to extend through ports in a flow conduit into direct contact with the fluid flow stream. This requirement for probe ports in the conduit typically results in a monitoring system which is relatively costly to fabricate and maintain, and further wherein the probe ports present leakage sites for escape of potentially hazardous process fluid.
  • neninvasi e sensing systems have been developed particularly for use in monitoring certain flow parameters of a liquid flow within a conduit.
  • Such no ⁇ invasive systems have utilized ultrasonic transducers mounted on the exterior of a flow conduit and adapted to bidirectionally transmit and receive pulsed signals diagonally through the conduit and flow stream therein. By measuring the upstream and downstream transit times of these pulsed signals, it is possible to calculate the flow velocity of the liquid flow stream. Moreover, with this transit time information, it is also possible to calculate the speed of sound in the liquid flow stream.
  • noninvasive sensing systems of the type described above are extremely desirable in many operating environments, their practical utility has been limited to monitoring of a relatively small number of flow parameters. More specifically, noninvasive systems have not been designed for obtaining accurate and reliable measurements of the temperature and pressure of the flow stream. To obtain measurements of temperature and pressure, resort to invasive type monitoring devices has generally been required.
  • an improved flow sensing system for monitoring fluid flow within a conduit.
  • the system includes a
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET plurality of nonintrusive or noninvasive transducers for sending and receiving an plurality of signals, such as pulsed ultrasonic signals, through the conduit and/or the flow stream therein, in combination with means for analyzing the relative transit times of the signals to derive fluid flow velocity, temperature and pressure.
  • the system is particularly adapted for monitoring a liquid flow stream.
  • the flow sensing system includes a pair of ultrasonic flowmeter transducers mounted on opposite sides of the conduit at longitudinally spaced positions. These flowmeter transducers are designed to send and receive pulsed ultrasonic signals along a line of transmission extending diagonally across and through the conduit and flow stream.
  • the flowmeter transducers generate appropriate outputs representative of signal transit times in the upstream and down stream directions, and these outputs are coupled to a processor for appropriate calculated derivation of the flowstream velocity.
  • the processor responds to these outputs to calculate the speed of sound in the flow stream, wherein the speed of sound is variable in accordance with fluid pressure and temperature.
  • the sensing system further includes an ultrasonic temperature transducer and an ultrasonic pressure transducer, both of which are mounted on the conduit in a nonintrusive manner and in a predetermined spatial arrangement relative to the flowmeter transducers.
  • the temperature transducer is positioned in longitudinal spaced relation with one of the flowmeter transducers and cooperates therewith to monitor the transit time of an ultrasonic temperature signal longitudinally through the conduit.
  • the transit lime of this temperature signal is a direct function of the distance between the cooperating transducers, with this distance in turn being a direct function of conduit wall temperature.
  • An appropriate temperature representative output signal is thus provided to the processor.
  • the pressure transducer is disposed in a selected circumferentially spaced position relative to one of the other transducers, such as one of the flowmeter transducers, and cooperates therewith to monitor the transit time of an ultrasonic pressure-indicating signal through a portion of the conduit circumference. Since the transit time of the ultrasonic signal is a function of the combined effects of conduit wall temperature and fluid pressure applied to the conduit as hoop stress, a resultant output signal representing these combined effects is supplied to the processor. However, the processor is able to determine the effect attributable to conduit wall temperature based upon the temperature signal as described above, such that the processor can subtract the temperature portion to derive an indication of fluid pressure within the conduit.
  • the derived fluid pressure level is then compared by the processor with the previously determined fluid sonic velocity. Since the speed of sound in the fluid is a variable according to fluid pressure and temperature, the independent determination of fluid pressure permits the processor to analyze the sonic velocity to determine fluid temperature.
  • FIGURE 1 is a fragmented perspective view of a fluid flow conduit in
  • FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmented side elevational view of the conduit and sensing system depicted in FIG. 1; and FIGURE 3 is a flow chart diagram illustrating the operation of the sensing system to obtain measurements of multiple fluid flow parameters.
  • a nonintrusive flow sensing system referred to generally in FIGURE 1 by the reference numeral 10 for monitoring of a fluid flow stream 12 with a conduit 14.
  • the sensing system 10 includes a plurality of transducers mounted on the conduit 14 and adapted to send and receive acoustic signals in various directions through the conduit and/or through the flow stream therein.
  • a processor 16 is coupled to the transducers to monitor the transit times of the signals and to derive therefrom an accurate measurement of flow stream parameters such as velocity, temperature and pressure.
  • the sensing system 10 of the present invention is particularly designed to measure a variety of important fluid parameters with respect to a flow stream passing through a conduit or the like, wherein the monitored parameters are obtained in a wholly nonintrusive or noninvasive manner which avoids the need for sensor probe ports to be formed in the conduit. Accordingly, the system 10 of the present invention can be used safely with hazardous fluids and/or with fluids subjected to significant heat or pressure, without concern for leakage through traditional sensor probe mounting sites. Moreover, the system 10 can be installed quickly and easily
  • the improved flow sensing system 10 includes a pair of ultrasonic flowmeter transducers 18 and 20 mounted suitably onto the exterior of the conduit 14 at selected spaced positions, as is known in the art with respect to ultrasonic flow sensing systems.
  • These flowmeter transducers 18 and 20 comprise piezoelectric transducers of the so-called shear or Rayleigh clamp-on type adapted to transmit and receive pulsed ultrasonic signals.
  • the flowmeter transducers 18 and 20 are mounted generally on opposite sides of the conduit and at longitudinally spaced positions such that a line of transmission extends through the conduit walls and across the fluid flow stream in a diagonal manner with a significant component of direction extending upstream and downstream, as indicted by arrow 22.
  • the processor 16 operates and controls the flowmeter transducers 18 and 20 to monitor the signal transit times in the upstream and downstream directions, such that the transducers provide appropriate outputs 19 and 20 to a first calculator 23 (FIG. 3) forming a portion of the processor 16.
  • This first calculator 23 utilizes algorithms known in the art to derive an accurate indication of flow velocity and speed of sound through the fluid.
  • ultrasonic flowmeter arrangements are known in the art particularly for use in monitoring flow velocity of a liquid stream in a conduit.
  • the derived flow velocity and sonic velocity are provided as separate outputs 25 and 27 (FIG. 3), respectively, of the first calculator 23. Since the sonic velocity output 27 is a functional variable according to fluid temperature and pressure, the sonic velocity output is utilized further within the processor 16 to determine these parameters, as will be described in more detail.
  • the sensing system 10 further includes a temperature transducer 24 and a pressure transducer 26 in the form of additional ultrasonic transducers mounted noninvasively on the conduit 14. These temperature and pressure transducers 24 and 26 cooperate with at least one of the flowmeter transducers 18 and 20 to send and receive additional ultrasonic signals through the conduit along controlled paths. The transit times of these additional signals are analyzed by the processor 16 to obtain indication of fluid temperature and pressure.
  • the temperature transducer 24 is positioned longitudinally in-line with the flowmeter transducer 18 with a predetermined longitudinal spacing. Ultrasonic signals passed between the transducers 18 and 24 will thus travel through the conduit wall along the path indicated by arrow 28 and exhibit a transit time corresponding with the specific distance of signal travel, wherein variations in the distance are independent of fluid flow velocity or pressure.
  • variations in the distance between the transducers 18 and 24 are a direct function of variations in the temperature of the conduit wall, with temperature increase being represented by wall material expansion to increase the inter-transducer distance, and vice versa. Accordingly, the signal transit time between the transducer 18 and 20 represents and can be correlated directly with conduit wall temperature.
  • An output signal 29 from the transducer 24 represents this wall temperature and is provided as one input to a second calculator 31 forming a portion of the processor 16 and adapted to derive fluid pressure.
  • the pressure transducer 26 is mounted on the conduit 14 at the same longitudinal position or plane with the flowmeter transducer 18, but in a predetermined circumferentially spaced relation. The transit times of ultrasonic signals passed throught the wall of the conduit 14 between the transducers 18 and 26 along the path indicated by arrow 30 thus represents
  • An output 32 from the pressure transducer 26 thus represents a composite of the effect of fluid pressure and conduit wall temperature, and this output 32 is applied as a second input to the pressure calculator 31.
  • the processor 16 receives and analyzes the transit time information from the temperature and pressure transducers 26 and 28 to de termine the pressure of the fluid flow stream. More specifically, as shown in FIG.
  • the transit time information from the temperature and pressure transducers is initially supplied to the pressure calculator 31 of the processor 16.
  • the effect of conduit, wall temperature obtained from the temperature transducer 2-. is subtracted as a compensation factor from the combined pressure-temperature indication provided from the pressure transducer 26, thereby permitting calculated derivation of the fluid pressure as an output 34 of the processor 16.
  • This derivation of fluid pressure is obtained throught the use of appropriate algorithms known in the art and programmed into the calculator 31.
  • the derived pressure information in also supplied within the processor 16 to a third calculator 36 forming another portion of the processor 16 and adapted to derive an indication of fluid temperature based upon the transducer transit time information.
  • This temperature calculator forming another portion of the processor 16 and adapted to derive an indication of fluid temperature based upon the transducer transit time information.
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET be utilized by the temperature calculator 36 to provide an accurately derived indication of fluid temperature as another output 38 of the processor.
  • this derivation of temperature is obtained by the use of appropriate algorithms known in the art.
  • the sensing system 10 of the present invention provides a significant improvement upon prior art ultrasonic flowmeter systems by providing additional acoustic signals and related transit time measurements to permit derivation of fluid temperature and pressure. These additional parameters are obtained without requiring invasive sensor probes on related mounting ports in the wall of a fluid conduit.

Abstract

A nonintrusive flow sensing system (10) and related method are provided for monitoring fluid flow within a conduit (14), particularly such as a liquid flow (12). The sensing system (10) includes an array of ultrasonic transducers (18, 20, 24, 26) mounted on the conduit (14) and adapted to send and receive pulsed ultrasonic signals bidirectionally across the conduit with an upstream-downstream component of direction, and through the conduit in longitudinal and circumferential directions. Signal transit times are processed to obtain accurate measurements of liquid flow velocity, temperature and pressure.

Description

I
NONINTRUSIVE FLOW SENSING SYSTEM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to an improved system and method for detecting and monitoring fluid flow parameters such as liquid flow within a conduit. More particularly, this invention relates to a sensing system and method for measuring fluid flow velocity, temperature and pressure in a nonintrusive or noninvasive manner.
Fluid flow conduits are widely used in industrial processes and the like to deliver fluids in liquid or gaseous form from one location to another. In many instances, it is necessary or desirable to monitor the fluid flow to insure proper and/or safe operation of process equipment. As one example, in a nuclear power plant facility, it is necessary to monitor various liquid flow parameters such as flow rate, temperature, and pressure. Accordingly, in the prior art, a variety of flow monitoring devices and techniques ha*'-i been developed for this purpose. However, in general, these prior art devices and methods for monitoring fluid flows have utilized invasive temperature and/or pressure probes mounted to extend through ports in a flow conduit into direct contact with the fluid flow stream. This requirement for probe ports in the conduit typically results in a monitoring system which is relatively costly to fabricate and maintain, and further wherein the probe ports present leakage sites for escape of potentially hazardous process fluid.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET In recent years, neninvasi e sensing systems have been developed particularly for use in monitoring certain flow parameters of a liquid flow within a conduit. Such noπinvasive systems have utilized ultrasonic transducers mounted on the exterior of a flow conduit and adapted to bidirectionally transmit and receive pulsed signals diagonally through the conduit and flow stream therein. By measuring the upstream and downstream transit times of these pulsed signals, it is possible to calculate the flow velocity of the liquid flow stream. Moreover, with this transit time information, it is also possible to calculate the speed of sound in the liquid flow stream.
While noninvasive sensing systems of the type described above are extremely desirable in many operating environments, their practical utility has been limited to monitoring of a relatively small number of flow parameters. More specifically, noninvasive systems have not been designed for obtaining accurate and reliable measurements of the temperature and pressure of the flow stream. To obtain measurements of temperature and pressure, resort to invasive type monitoring devices has generally been required.
There exists, therefore, a significant need for further improvements in sensing systems and methods for noninvasive monitoring of fluid flow within a conduit, particularly with respect to monitoring of additional fluid parameters such as temperature and pressure. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention, an improved flow sensing system is provided for monitoring fluid flow within a conduit. The system includes a
SUBSTITUTE SHEET plurality of nonintrusive or noninvasive transducers for sending and receiving an plurality of signals, such as pulsed ultrasonic signals, through the conduit and/or the flow stream therein, in combination with means for analyzing the relative transit times of the signals to derive fluid flow velocity, temperature and pressure. The system is particularly adapted for monitoring a liquid flow stream.
The flow sensing system includes a pair of ultrasonic flowmeter transducers mounted on opposite sides of the conduit at longitudinally spaced positions. These flowmeter transducers are designed to send and receive pulsed ultrasonic signals along a line of transmission extending diagonally across and through the conduit and flow stream. The flowmeter transducers generate appropriate outputs representative of signal transit times in the upstream and down stream directions, and these outputs are coupled to a processor for appropriate calculated derivation of the flowstream velocity. In addition, the processor responds to these outputs to calculate the speed of sound in the flow stream, wherein the speed of sound is variable in accordance with fluid pressure and temperature.
In the preferred form, the sensing system further includes an ultrasonic temperature transducer and an ultrasonic pressure transducer, both of which are mounted on the conduit in a nonintrusive manner and in a predetermined spatial arrangement relative to the flowmeter transducers.
The temperature transducer is positioned in longitudinal spaced relation with one of the flowmeter transducers and cooperates therewith to monitor the transit time of an ultrasonic temperature signal longitudinally through the conduit. The transit lime of this temperature signal is a direct function of the distance between the cooperating transducers, with this distance in turn being a direct function of conduit wall temperature. An appropriate temperature representative output signal is thus provided to the processor.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET The pressure transducer is disposed in a selected circumferentially spaced position relative to one of the other transducers, such as one of the flowmeter transducers, and cooperates therewith to monitor the transit time of an ultrasonic pressure-indicating signal through a portion of the conduit circumference. Since the transit time of the ultrasonic signal is a function of the combined effects of conduit wall temperature and fluid pressure applied to the conduit as hoop stress, a resultant output signal representing these combined effects is supplied to the processor. However, the processor is able to determine the effect attributable to conduit wall temperature based upon the temperature signal as described above, such that the processor can subtract the temperature portion to derive an indication of fluid pressure within the conduit.
The derived fluid pressure level is then compared by the processor with the previously determined fluid sonic velocity. Since the speed of sound in the fluid is a variable according to fluid pressure and temperature, the independent determination of fluid pressure permits the processor to analyze the sonic velocity to determine fluid temperature.
Thus, in accordance with the invention, fluid velocity, pressure and temperature are all determined through the use of nonintrusive sensors. Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings: FIGURE 1 is a fragmented perspective view of a fluid flow conduit in
SUBSTITUTE SHEET combination with a nonintrusive flow sensing system embodying the novel features of the invention;
FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmented side elevational view of the conduit and sensing system depicted in FIG. 1; and FIGURE 3 is a flow chart diagram illustrating the operation of the sensing system to obtain measurements of multiple fluid flow parameters.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As shown in the exemplary drawings, a nonintrusive flow sensing system referred to generally in FIGURE 1 by the reference numeral 10 is provided for monitoring of a fluid flow stream 12 with a conduit 14. The sensing system 10 includes a plurality of transducers mounted on the conduit 14 and adapted to send and receive acoustic signals in various directions through the conduit and/or through the flow stream therein. A processor 16 is coupled to the transducers to monitor the transit times of the signals and to derive therefrom an accurate measurement of flow stream parameters such as velocity, temperature and pressure. The sensing system 10 of the present invention is particularly designed to measure a variety of important fluid parameters with respect to a flow stream passing through a conduit or the like, wherein the monitored parameters are obtained in a wholly nonintrusive or noninvasive manner which avoids the need for sensor probe ports to be formed in the conduit. Accordingly, the system 10 of the present invention can be used safely with hazardous fluids and/or with fluids subjected to significant heat or pressure, without concern for leakage through traditional sensor probe mounting sites. Moreover, the system 10 can be installed quickly and easily
SUBSTITUTE SHEET onto a conduit during original conduit installation procedures, or subsequently, as a retrofit item without any interruption of fluid flow through the conduit.
In general terms, the improved flow sensing system 10 includes a pair of ultrasonic flowmeter transducers 18 and 20 mounted suitably onto the exterior of the conduit 14 at selected spaced positions, as is known in the art with respect to ultrasonic flow sensing systems. These flowmeter transducers 18 and 20 comprise piezoelectric transducers of the so-called shear or Rayleigh clamp-on type adapted to transmit and receive pulsed ultrasonic signals. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the flowmeter transducers 18 and 20 are mounted generally on opposite sides of the conduit and at longitudinally spaced positions such that a line of transmission extends through the conduit walls and across the fluid flow stream in a diagonal manner with a significant component of direction extending upstream and downstream, as indicted by arrow 22.
The processor 16 operates and controls the flowmeter transducers 18 and 20 to monitor the signal transit times in the upstream and downstream directions, such that the transducers provide appropriate outputs 19 and 20 to a first calculator 23 (FIG. 3) forming a portion of the processor 16. This first calculator 23 utilizes algorithms known in the art to derive an accurate indication of flow velocity and speed of sound through the fluid. In this regard, such ultrasonic flowmeter arrangements are known in the art particularly for use in monitoring flow velocity of a liquid stream in a conduit. The derived flow velocity and sonic velocity are provided as separate outputs 25 and 27 (FIG. 3), respectively, of the first calculator 23. Since the sonic velocity output 27 is a functional variable according to fluid temperature and pressure, the sonic velocity output is utilized further within the processor 16 to determine these parameters, as will be described in more detail.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET The sensing system 10 further includes a temperature transducer 24 and a pressure transducer 26 in the form of additional ultrasonic transducers mounted noninvasively on the conduit 14. These temperature and pressure transducers 24 and 26 cooperate with at least one of the flowmeter transducers 18 and 20 to send and receive additional ultrasonic signals through the conduit along controlled paths. The transit times of these additional signals are analyzed by the processor 16 to obtain indication of fluid temperature and pressure.
More specifically, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, the temperature transducer 24 is positioned longitudinally in-line with the flowmeter transducer 18 with a predetermined longitudinal spacing. Ultrasonic signals passed between the transducers 18 and 24 will thus travel through the conduit wall along the path indicated by arrow 28 and exhibit a transit time corresponding with the specific distance of signal travel, wherein variations in the distance are independent of fluid flow velocity or pressure. However, variations in the distance between the transducers 18 and 24 are a direct function of variations in the temperature of the conduit wall, with temperature increase being represented by wall material expansion to increase the inter-transducer distance, and vice versa. Accordingly, the signal transit time between the transducer 18 and 20 represents and can be correlated directly with conduit wall temperature. An output signal 29 from the transducer 24 represents this wall temperature and is provided as one input to a second calculator 31 forming a portion of the processor 16 and adapted to derive fluid pressure. The pressure transducer 26 is mounted on the conduit 14 at the same longitudinal position or plane with the flowmeter transducer 18, but in a predetermined circumferentially spaced relation. The transit times of ultrasonic signals passed throught the wall of the conduit 14 between the transducers 18 and 26 along the path indicated by arrow 30 thus represents
SUBSTITUTE SHEET the spacing distance, with variations in this spacing being a function of the combined effects of temperature and pressure. That is, increase in conduit wall temperature will result in an increase in the inter-transducer distance. Similarly, an increase in fluid pressure within the conduit 14 will also result in an increase in the inter-transducer distance as a result of hoop stress applied to the conduit wall material. An output 32 from the pressure transducer 26 thus represents a composite of the effect of fluid pressure and conduit wall temperature, and this output 32 is applied as a second input to the pressure calculator 31. The processor 16 receives and analyzes the transit time information from the temperature and pressure transducers 26 and 28 to de termine the pressure of the fluid flow stream. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the transit time information from the temperature and pressure transducers is initially supplied to the pressure calculator 31 of the processor 16. In this calculator 31, the effect of conduit, wall temperature obtained from the temperature transducer 2-. is subtracted as a compensation factor from the combined pressure-temperature indication provided from the pressure transducer 26, thereby permitting calculated derivation of the fluid pressure as an output 34 of the processor 16. This derivation of fluid pressure is obtained throught the use of appropriate algorithms known in the art and programmed into the calculator 31.
The derived pressure information in also supplied within the processor 16 to a third calculator 36 forming another portion of the processor 16 and adapted to derive an indication of fluid temperature based upon the transducer transit time information. This temperature calculator
36 receives the fluid sonic velocity signal 27 from the first calculator
23. Since the speed of sound in the flow stream is functionally related to temperature and pressure variations, the calculated pressure information can
SUBSTITUTE SHEET be utilized by the temperature calculator 36 to provide an accurately derived indication of fluid temperature as another output 38 of the processor. Once again, this derivation of temperature is obtained by the use of appropriate algorithms known in the art. Accordingly, the sensing system 10 of the present invention provides a significant improvement upon prior art ultrasonic flowmeter systems by providing additional acoustic signals and related transit time measurements to permit derivation of fluid temperature and pressure. These additional parameters are obtained without requiring invasive sensor probes on related mounting ports in the wall of a fluid conduit.
A variety of modifications and improvements to the sensing system 10 will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, while the temperature and pressure transducers 24 and 26 are described in conjunction with one of the flowmeter transducers, it will be understood that additional transducers may be used to obtain the desired longitudinal and circumferential transit time measurements. Accordingly, no limitation on the invention is intended by way of the foregoing description and accompanying drawings, except as set forth in the appended claims.
TE SHEET

Claims

IN THE CLAIMS :
1 1. A fluid flow sensing system for monitoring a fluid flow stream
2 within a conduit, said system comprising:
3 first means for bidirectionally sending and receiving acoustic
4 signals generally diagonally across the flow stream between a pair of
5 predetermined and longitudinally spaced points, and for measuring the signal
6 transit times;
7 second means for sending and receiving an acoustic signal
8 through the conduit in a longitudinal direction between a pair of
9 predetermined spaced and longitudinally aligned points, and for measuring the signal transit time;
11 third means for sending and receiving an acoustic signal
12 through the conduit in a circumferential direction between a pair of
13 predetermined spaced and citcumferentially aligned points, and for measuring
14 the signal transit time; and 5 processor means responsive to the signal transit times measured iδ by said first, second and third means to provide outputs representative of l-7 fluid flow velocity, temperature and pressure.
1 2. The fluid flow sensing system of claim 1 wherein said first, second and third means each comprises a pair of ultrasonic transducers.
3. The fluid flow sensing system of claim 1 wherein said first, second and third means comprise a plurality of transducers mounted nonintrusively onto the conduit.
UBSTITUTE SHEET
4. The fluid sensing system of claim 1 wherein said first means comprises a pair of ultrasonic transmitter-receiver flowmeter transducers mounted generally on opposite sides of the conduit in longitudinally spaced relation, said second means comprising a temperature transducer mounted on the conduit in longitudinally spaced and longitudinally aligned relation with one of said flowmeter transducers, and said third means comprising a pressure transducer mounted on the conduit in circumferentially spaced and circumferentially aligned relation with one of said flowmeter transducers.
5. The fluid flow sensing system of claim 1 wherein said processor means includes first calculation means responsive to the signal transit times measured by said first means to determine the flow velocity of the fluid stream and the speed of sound within the flow stream, second calculator means responsive to the signal transit times measured by said second and third means to determine the pressure of the flow stream, and third calculator means responsive to the speed of sound with the flow stream and the flow stream pressure to determine the temperature of the flow stream.
6. A fluid flow sensing system for monitoring a fluid flow stream within a conduit, said system comprising: a plurality of acoustic transducers mounted noninstrusively onto the conduit and adapted to send and receive acoustic signals diagonally across the flow stream between predetermined points with a significant upstream-downstream component of direction, longitudinally through a portion of the conduit between predetermined points, and circumferentially through a portion of the conduit between predetermined points, and to measure the signal transit times; and calculation means responsive to the measured signal transit times to determine the velocity, pressure and temperature of the flow stream.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET
7- A fluid flow sensing system for monitoring a fluid flow stream within a conduit, said system comprising: a plurality of acoustic transducers mounted nonintrusively onto the conduit and adapted to send and receive acoustic signals longitudinally through a portion of the conduit between predetermined points, and circumferentially through a portion of the conduit between predetermined points, and to measure the signal transit times; and calculation means responsive to the measured signal transit times to determine the velocity, pressure and temperature of the flow stream.
8. A method of monitoring a fluid flow stream within a conduit, said method comprising the steps of: bidirectionally sending and receiving acoustic signals generally diagonally across the flow stream between a pair of predetermined and longitudinally spaced points, and measuring the signal transit times; sending and receiving an acoustic signal through the conduit in a longitudinal direction between a pair of predetermined spaced and longitudinally aligned points, and measuring the signal transit time; sending and receiving an acoustic signal through the conduit in a circumferential direction between a pair of predetermined spaced and circumferentially aligned points, and measuring the signal transit time; and responding to the measured signal transit times to determine fluid flow velocity, temperature and pressure.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET
9. The method of claim 8 wherein said responding step includes the steps of responding to the diagonal signal transit times to determine flow velocity of the fluid stream and the speed of sound within the flow stream, responding to the longitudinal and circumferential signal transit times to determine the pressure of the flow stream, and responding to the speed of sound within the flow stream and the flow stream pressure to determine the temperature of the flow stream.
10. A method of monitoring a fluid flow stream within a conduit, said method comprising the steps of: sending and receiving an acoustic signal through the conduit in a longitudinal direction between a pair of predetermined spaced and longitudinally aligned points, and measuring the signal transit time; sending and receiving an acoustic signal through the conduit in a circumferential direction between a pair of predetermined spaced and circumferentially aligned points, and measuring the signal transit time; and responding to the measured signal transit time to determine fluid pressure within the conduit.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET
PCT/US1991/005829 1990-06-15 1991-08-14 Nonintrusive flow sensing system WO1993004343A1 (en)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US07/539,417 US5040415A (en) 1990-06-15 1990-06-15 Nonintrusive flow sensing system
PCT/US1991/005829 WO1993004343A1 (en) 1991-08-14 1991-08-14 Nonintrusive flow sensing system
EP91916176A EP0598720B1 (en) 1991-08-14 1991-08-14 Nonintrusive flow sensing system
DE69118555T DE69118555T2 (en) 1991-08-14 1991-08-14 NON-INTERVENTION FLOW MEASURING SYSTEM
JP03515099A JP3110042B2 (en) 1991-08-14 1991-08-14 Non-penetrating fluid detection system
CA002104125A CA2104125A1 (en) 1991-08-14 1991-08-14 Non-intrusive flow sensing system

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US1991/005829 WO1993004343A1 (en) 1991-08-14 1991-08-14 Nonintrusive flow sensing system

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1993004343A1 true WO1993004343A1 (en) 1993-03-04

Family

ID=1239282

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1991/005829 WO1993004343A1 (en) 1990-06-15 1991-08-14 Nonintrusive flow sensing system

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US5040415A (en)
EP (1) EP0598720B1 (en)
JP (1) JP3110042B2 (en)
CA (1) CA2104125A1 (en)
DE (1) DE69118555T2 (en)
WO (1) WO1993004343A1 (en)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1994004890A1 (en) * 1992-08-25 1994-03-03 Kamstrup A/S Flow meter
EP1243901A1 (en) * 1999-06-24 2002-09-25 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Flowmeter
WO2007040980A1 (en) * 2005-09-29 2007-04-12 Rosemount Inc. Pressure transmitter with acoustic pressure sensor
WO2015164466A1 (en) * 2014-04-23 2015-10-29 Siemens Energy, Inc. Method for optimizing base points used in temperature mapping of a turbine hot gas flow path by determining acoustic signal intersection points
EP3086098A1 (en) * 2015-04-21 2016-10-26 Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives System and method for measuring a flow of fluid by acoustic wave treatment
CN106289568A (en) * 2016-07-27 2017-01-04 西北工业大学 A kind of detonation flame temperature measurement system and the method for reconstructing of three-dimensional temperature field
US9709448B2 (en) 2013-12-18 2017-07-18 Siemens Energy, Inc. Active measurement of gas flow temperature, including in gas turbine combustors
US9746360B2 (en) 2014-03-13 2017-08-29 Siemens Energy, Inc. Nonintrusive performance measurement of a gas turbine engine in real time
US9752959B2 (en) 2014-03-13 2017-09-05 Siemens Energy, Inc. Nonintrusive transceiver and method for characterizing temperature and velocity fields in a gas turbine combustor
US9945737B2 (en) 2014-03-13 2018-04-17 Siemens Energy, Inc. Method for determining waveguide temperature for acoustic transceiver used in a gas turbine engine
EP3255390B1 (en) * 2016-06-10 2021-08-04 em-tec GmbH Device and method for measuring flows in a fluid line

Families Citing this family (141)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5497665A (en) * 1991-02-05 1996-03-12 Direct Measurement Corporation Coriolis mass flow rate meter having adjustable pressure and density sensitivity
US5448921A (en) * 1991-02-05 1995-09-12 Direct Measurement Corporation Coriolis mass flow rate meter
WO1992014123A1 (en) * 1991-02-05 1992-08-20 Donald Reed Cage Improved coriolis mass flow rate meter
US5214343A (en) * 1991-03-11 1993-05-25 Joseph Baumoel Fluoroether grease acoustic couplant
TW283763B (en) * 1992-10-06 1996-08-21 Caldon Inc
US5440936A (en) * 1992-11-16 1995-08-15 Triton Technology, Inc. Compact x-cross transducer array for a transit time flowmeter, particularly for use during in-vivo blood flow measurement
AU7358194A (en) * 1993-07-06 1995-02-06 Daniel Industries, Inc. Method and apparatus for measuring the time of flight of a signal
US5388451A (en) * 1993-07-30 1995-02-14 Consolidated Electronics Inc. High voltage transmission switching apparatus with gas monitoring device
US5597962A (en) 1995-03-31 1997-01-28 Caldon, Inc. Apparatus for determining fluid flow
US5585557A (en) * 1995-05-12 1996-12-17 Lockheed Corporation Air data system for measuring fluid flow direction and velocity
WO1997009591A1 (en) * 1995-09-05 1997-03-13 Daniel Industries, Inc. Measuring time of flight of a signal
US5753827A (en) * 1995-10-17 1998-05-19 Direct Measurement Corporation Coriolis meteR having a geometry insensitive to changes in fluid pressure and density and method of operation thereof
US5907104A (en) * 1995-12-08 1999-05-25 Direct Measurement Corporation Signal processing and field proving methods and circuits for a coriolis mass flow meter
US5827979A (en) * 1996-04-22 1998-10-27 Direct Measurement Corporation Signal processing apparati and methods for attenuating shifts in zero intercept attributable to a changing boundary condition in a Coriolis mass flow meter
US5838258A (en) * 1996-11-08 1998-11-17 Saar; David A. System for monitoring the use of heat energy in water devices in an individual unit of a multi-unit building
US5869745A (en) * 1996-12-20 1999-02-09 Morton International, Inc. Ultrasonic gas pressure measurement for inflators of vehicular airbag systems
US6354147B1 (en) 1998-06-26 2002-03-12 Cidra Corporation Fluid parameter measurement in pipes using acoustic pressures
EP1090274B1 (en) 1998-06-26 2017-03-15 Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC Fluid parameter measurement in pipes using acoustic pressures
US6450037B1 (en) 1998-06-26 2002-09-17 Cidra Corporation Non-intrusive fiber optic pressure sensor for measuring unsteady pressures within a pipe
US6463808B1 (en) * 1998-10-05 2002-10-15 Robert H. Hammond Ultrasonic measurement system with chordal path
US6227059B1 (en) 1999-01-12 2001-05-08 Direct Measurement Corporation System and method for employing an imaginary difference signal component to compensate for boundary condition effects on a Coriolis mass flow meter
US6435030B1 (en) 1999-06-25 2002-08-20 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Measurement of propagating acoustic waves in compliant pipes
US6463813B1 (en) 1999-06-25 2002-10-15 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Displacement based pressure sensor measuring unsteady pressure in a pipe
US6691584B2 (en) 1999-07-02 2004-02-17 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Flow rate measurement using unsteady pressures
US6536291B1 (en) 1999-07-02 2003-03-25 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Optical flow rate measurement using unsteady pressures
US6813962B2 (en) * 2000-03-07 2004-11-09 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Distributed sound speed measurements for multiphase flow measurement
US6601458B1 (en) 2000-03-07 2003-08-05 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Distributed sound speed measurements for multiphase flow measurement
DE10057188C8 (en) * 2000-11-17 2016-10-06 Endress + Hauser Flowtec Ag Ultrasonic flowmeter with temperature compensation
US6785004B2 (en) * 2000-11-29 2004-08-31 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Method and apparatus for interrogating fiber optic sensors
US6782150B2 (en) * 2000-11-29 2004-08-24 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Apparatus for sensing fluid in a pipe
US6443226B1 (en) 2000-11-29 2002-09-03 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Apparatus for protecting sensors within a well environment
US6501067B2 (en) 2000-11-29 2002-12-31 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Isolation pad for protecting sensing devices on the outside of a conduit
US6550342B2 (en) 2000-11-29 2003-04-22 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Circumferential strain attenuator
US6558036B2 (en) 2000-11-29 2003-05-06 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Non-intrusive temperature sensor for measuring internal temperature of fluids within pipes
US6627465B2 (en) * 2001-08-30 2003-09-30 Micron Technology, Inc. System and method for detecting flow in a mass flow controller
US7059172B2 (en) * 2001-11-07 2006-06-13 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Phase flow measurement in pipes using a density meter
US6698297B2 (en) 2002-06-28 2004-03-02 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Venturi augmented flow meter
US6971259B2 (en) 2001-11-07 2005-12-06 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Fluid density measurement in pipes using acoustic pressures
US7359803B2 (en) * 2002-01-23 2008-04-15 Cidra Corporation Apparatus and method for measuring parameters of a mixture having solid particles suspended in a fluid flowing in a pipe
US7032432B2 (en) * 2002-01-23 2006-04-25 Cidra Corporation Apparatus and method for measuring parameters of a mixture having liquid droplets suspended in a vapor flowing in a pipe
US7328624B2 (en) * 2002-01-23 2008-02-12 Cidra Corporation Probe for measuring parameters of a flowing fluid and/or multiphase mixture
US7275421B2 (en) * 2002-01-23 2007-10-02 Cidra Corporation Apparatus and method for measuring parameters of a mixture having solid particles suspended in a fluid flowing in a pipe
AU2003255235A1 (en) * 2002-08-08 2004-02-25 Cidra Corporation Apparatus and method for measuring multi-phase flows in pulp and paper industry applications
US6877894B2 (en) * 2002-09-24 2005-04-12 Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation Self-aligning apparatus for acoustic thermography
CA2513105C (en) * 2002-11-12 2013-01-08 Cidra Corporation An apparatus having an array of piezoelectric film sensors for measuring parameters of a process flow within a pipe
US7165464B2 (en) * 2002-11-15 2007-01-23 Cidra Corporation Apparatus and method for providing a flow measurement compensated for entrained gas
AU2003295992A1 (en) * 2002-11-22 2004-06-18 Cidra Corporation Method for calibrating a flow meter having an array of sensors
ATE480753T1 (en) * 2003-01-13 2010-09-15 Expro Meters Inc APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE VELOCITY OF A FLUID IN A PIPE USING ULTRASONIC SENSORS
WO2004063741A2 (en) * 2003-01-13 2004-07-29 Cidra Corporation Apparatus for measuring parameters of a flowing multiphase fluid mixture
US6945095B2 (en) * 2003-01-21 2005-09-20 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Non-intrusive multiphase flow meter
US20060048583A1 (en) * 2004-08-16 2006-03-09 Gysling Daniel L Total gas meter using speed of sound and velocity measurements
US7343818B2 (en) * 2003-01-21 2008-03-18 Cidra Corporation Apparatus and method of measuring gas volume fraction of a fluid flowing within a pipe
WO2004065912A2 (en) * 2003-01-21 2004-08-05 Cidra Corporation Apparatus and method for measuring unsteady pressures within a large diameter pipe
EP1590637B1 (en) * 2003-01-21 2008-11-05 Expro Meters, Inc. An apparatus and method of measuring gas volume fraction of a fluid flowing within a pipe
US7086278B2 (en) * 2003-01-21 2006-08-08 Cidra Corporation Measurement of entrained and dissolved gases in process flow lines
EP1599705B1 (en) 2003-03-04 2019-01-02 CiDra Corporation An apparatus having a multi-band sensor assembly for measuring a parameter of a fluid flow flowing within a pipe
US6986276B2 (en) * 2003-03-07 2006-01-17 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Deployable mandrel for downhole measurements
US6837098B2 (en) * 2003-03-19 2005-01-04 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Sand monitoring within wells using acoustic arrays
EP1631797A2 (en) * 2003-06-05 2006-03-08 CiDra Corporation Apparatus for measuring velocity and flow rate of a fluid having a non-negligible axial mach number using an array of sensors
US7121152B2 (en) * 2003-06-06 2006-10-17 Cidra Corporation Portable flow measurement apparatus having an array of sensors
WO2005003713A2 (en) * 2003-06-24 2005-01-13 Cidra Corporation Contact-based transducers for characterizing unsteady pressures in pipes
US7197938B2 (en) * 2003-06-24 2007-04-03 Cidra Corporation Contact-based transducers for characterizing unsteady pressures in pipes
EP1644705B1 (en) * 2003-06-24 2016-10-12 Cidra Corporate Services, Inc. System and method for operating a flow process
WO2005054789A1 (en) * 2003-07-08 2005-06-16 Cidra Corporation Method and apparatus for measuring characteristics of core-annular flow
US7127360B2 (en) * 2003-07-15 2006-10-24 Cidra Corporation Dual function flow measurement apparatus having an array of sensors
CA2532577C (en) * 2003-07-15 2013-01-08 Cidra Corporation A configurable multi-function flow measurement apparatus having an array of sensors
US7299705B2 (en) * 2003-07-15 2007-11-27 Cidra Corporation Apparatus and method for augmenting a Coriolis meter
ATE414261T1 (en) * 2003-07-15 2008-11-15 Expro Meters Inc APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR COMPENSATING A CORIOLIS FLOW METER
US7134320B2 (en) * 2003-07-15 2006-11-14 Cidra Corporation Apparatus and method for providing a density measurement augmented for entrained gas
US7322251B2 (en) * 2003-08-01 2008-01-29 Cidra Corporation Method and apparatus for measuring a parameter of a high temperature fluid flowing within a pipe using an array of piezoelectric based flow sensors
WO2005012843A2 (en) 2003-08-01 2005-02-10 Cidra Corporation Method and apparatus for measuring parameters of a fluid flowing within a pipe using a configurable array of sensors
US7882750B2 (en) * 2003-08-01 2011-02-08 Cidra Corporate Services, Inc. Method and apparatus for measuring parameters of a fluid flowing within a pipe using a configurable array of sensors
US6910388B2 (en) * 2003-08-22 2005-06-28 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Flow meter using an expanded tube section and sensitive differential pressure measurement
US20080264182A1 (en) * 2003-08-22 2008-10-30 Jones Richard T Flow meter using sensitive differential pressure measurement
US7110893B2 (en) * 2003-10-09 2006-09-19 Cidra Corporation Method and apparatus for measuring a parameter of a fluid flowing within a pipe using an array of sensors
US7237440B2 (en) * 2003-10-10 2007-07-03 Cidra Corporation Flow measurement apparatus having strain-based sensors and ultrasonic sensors
US20050085158A1 (en) * 2003-10-16 2005-04-21 Henry Tsang Liquid activated devices
US7171315B2 (en) * 2003-11-25 2007-01-30 Cidra Corporation Method and apparatus for measuring a parameter of a fluid flowing within a pipe using sub-array processing
US7155969B2 (en) * 2003-12-10 2007-01-02 Rosemount Aerospace Inc. System for and method of acoustic and through skin air data measurement
US7152003B2 (en) 2003-12-11 2006-12-19 Cidra Corporation Method and apparatus for determining a quality metric of a measurement of a fluid parameter
US7470056B2 (en) * 2004-02-12 2008-12-30 Industrial Measurement Systems, Inc. Methods and apparatus for monitoring a condition of a material
US7330797B2 (en) * 2004-03-10 2008-02-12 Cidra Corporation Apparatus and method for measuring settlement of solids in a multiphase flow
BRPI0508637B1 (en) * 2004-03-10 2017-10-10 Cidra Corporation METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING PARAMETERS OF A STRATIFIED FLOW
US7367239B2 (en) * 2004-03-23 2008-05-06 Cidra Corporation Piezocable based sensor for measuring unsteady pressures inside a pipe
US7426852B1 (en) 2004-04-26 2008-09-23 Expro Meters, Inc. Submersible meter for measuring a parameter of gas hold-up of a fluid
WO2005116637A2 (en) * 2004-05-17 2005-12-08 Cidra Corporation Apparatus and method for measuring the composition of a mixture
US7109471B2 (en) * 2004-06-04 2006-09-19 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Optical wavelength determination using multiple measurable features
US7480056B2 (en) * 2004-06-04 2009-01-20 Optoplan As Multi-pulse heterodyne sub-carrier interrogation of interferometric sensors
DE102004037135B4 (en) * 2004-07-30 2015-02-12 Robert Bosch Gmbh Method and device for synchronous pressure and temperature determination in a high-pressure vessel by means of ultrasonic transit time measurement
US20060033629A1 (en) * 2004-08-13 2006-02-16 Froet Industries, Llc Over flow sensor
WO2006112878A2 (en) 2004-09-16 2006-10-26 Cidra Corporation Apparatus and method for providing a fluid cut measurement of a multi-liquid mixture compensated for entrained gas
US7389687B2 (en) * 2004-11-05 2008-06-24 Cidra Corporation System for measuring a parameter of an aerated multi-phase mixture flowing in a pipe
DE102004061404A1 (en) * 2004-12-21 2006-07-06 Robert Bosch Gmbh Ultrasonic flow meter and method for flow measurement by means of ultrasound
US7561203B2 (en) * 2005-01-10 2009-07-14 Nokia Corporation User input device
US7962293B2 (en) * 2005-03-10 2011-06-14 Expro Meters, Inc. Apparatus and method for providing a stratification metric of a multiphase fluid flowing within a pipe
US7404671B2 (en) * 2005-03-10 2008-07-29 Luna Innovations Incorporated Dynamic acoustic thermometer
WO2010120258A2 (en) * 2005-03-17 2010-10-21 Cidra Corporation An apparatus and method of processing data to improve the performance of a flow monitoring system
US7657392B2 (en) * 2005-05-16 2010-02-02 Cidra Corporate Services, Inc. Method and apparatus for detecting and characterizing particles in a multiphase fluid
WO2006130499A2 (en) * 2005-05-27 2006-12-07 Cidra Corporation An apparatus and method for fiscal measuring of an aerated fluid
US7526966B2 (en) * 2005-05-27 2009-05-05 Expro Meters, Inc. Apparatus and method for measuring a parameter of a multiphase flow
US7249525B1 (en) 2005-06-22 2007-07-31 Cidra Corporation Apparatus for measuring parameters of a fluid in a lined pipe
US8641813B2 (en) 2005-07-07 2014-02-04 Expro Meters, Inc. System and method for optimizing a gas/liquid separation process
US7603916B2 (en) * 2005-07-07 2009-10-20 Expro Meters, Inc. Wet gas metering using a differential pressure and a sonar based flow meter
US7503227B2 (en) * 2005-07-13 2009-03-17 Cidra Corporate Services, Inc Method and apparatus for measuring parameters of a fluid flow using an array of sensors
US20070151363A1 (en) * 2005-12-30 2007-07-05 Honeywell International Inc. Non-invasive sensing technique for measuring gas flow and temperature
US7503217B2 (en) * 2006-01-27 2009-03-17 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Sonar sand detection
US7454981B2 (en) * 2006-05-16 2008-11-25 Expro Meters. Inc. Apparatus and method for determining a parameter in a wet gas flow
US7624650B2 (en) 2006-07-27 2009-12-01 Expro Meters, Inc. Apparatus and method for attenuating acoustic waves propagating within a pipe wall
US7624651B2 (en) * 2006-10-30 2009-12-01 Expro Meters, Inc. Apparatus and method for attenuating acoustic waves in pipe walls for clamp-on ultrasonic flow meter
US7673526B2 (en) * 2006-11-01 2010-03-09 Expro Meters, Inc. Apparatus and method of lensing an ultrasonic beam for an ultrasonic flow meter
EP2092278A2 (en) 2006-11-09 2009-08-26 Expro Meters, Inc. Apparatus and method for measuring a fluid flow parameter within an internal passage of an elongated body
US7729567B2 (en) * 2007-05-14 2010-06-01 The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Fiber optic transducer for simultaneous pressure and temperature measurement in fluid flow
US7735380B2 (en) * 2008-07-09 2010-06-15 Daniel Measurement & Control, Inc. Method and system of coordination of measurement subsystems of a flow meter
US7752919B2 (en) * 2008-07-09 2010-07-13 Daniel Measurement And Control, Inc. System and method of an acoustic flow meter with dual flow measurements
US8192075B2 (en) * 2008-08-19 2012-06-05 Ge Inspection Technologies, Lp Method for performing ultrasonic testing
US8256953B2 (en) * 2008-10-31 2012-09-04 Yuhas Donald E Methods and apparatus for measuring temperature and heat flux in a material using ultrasound
US9383281B2 (en) * 2009-02-19 2016-07-05 Ford Motor Company Fuel storage system and method for detecting a gas pressure therein
US8141434B2 (en) 2009-12-21 2012-03-27 Tecom As Flow measuring apparatus
WO2011078691A2 (en) 2009-12-22 2011-06-30 Tecom As C/O Christian Michelsen Research As Measuring apparatus
JP5740927B2 (en) * 2010-11-16 2015-07-01 トヨタ自動車株式会社 Fluid pressure inspection method and fluid pressure inspection device
DE102011087215A1 (en) * 2011-11-28 2013-05-29 Endress + Hauser Flowtec Ag Method for measuring heat quantity with an ultrasonic flowmeter
US9228888B2 (en) * 2013-01-23 2016-01-05 General Electric Company Sensor positioning with non-dispersive guided waves for pipeline corrosion monitoring
US9410422B2 (en) 2013-09-13 2016-08-09 Chevron U.S.A. Inc. Alternative gauging system for production well testing and related methods
NO342410B1 (en) * 2014-05-12 2018-05-22 Halfwave As Method for measuring pressure in pipes
EP2957873A1 (en) * 2014-06-20 2015-12-23 Kamstrup A/S Ultrasonic consumption meter with strain gauge
US9347808B2 (en) * 2014-07-24 2016-05-24 Texas Instruments Incorporated Flush mounted ultrasonic transducer arrays for flow measurement
US20160187172A1 (en) * 2014-12-30 2016-06-30 Cameron International Corporation Ultrasonic viscometer
US20170074698A1 (en) * 2015-09-16 2017-03-16 Honeywell International Inc. Ultrasonic meter for measuring gas at smaller dimensions
EP3256862B1 (en) 2016-01-18 2021-03-17 GWF MessSysteme AG Improved beam shaping acoustic signal travel time flow meter
US10248141B2 (en) * 2016-05-13 2019-04-02 Cameron International Corporation Non-invasive pressure measurement system
US11047723B1 (en) * 2016-08-25 2021-06-29 Joshua Earl Crawford Apparatus and method for measuring fluid flow parameters
NZ757513A (en) * 2017-03-17 2022-08-26 Movus Tech Pty Ltd Machine monitoring
KR102216114B1 (en) 2019-05-30 2021-02-16 주식회사 리버스 kitchen furniture having drawer chest adjusting height
US11231311B2 (en) 2019-05-31 2022-01-25 Perceptive Sensor Technologies Llc Non-linear ultrasound method and apparatus for quantitative detection of materials
US11729537B2 (en) 2020-12-02 2023-08-15 Perceptive Sensor Technologies, Inc. Variable angle transducer interface block
US11788904B2 (en) 2020-12-04 2023-10-17 Perceptive Sensor Technologies, Inc. Acoustic temperature measurement in layered environments
CN112523926B (en) * 2020-12-17 2022-10-18 中国长江电力股份有限公司 Hydraulic generator runner pressure monitoring system and method
CN116888468A (en) 2020-12-30 2023-10-13 感知传感器技术股份有限公司 Signal assessment of fluid quality
US11860077B2 (en) * 2021-12-14 2024-01-02 Saudi Arabian Oil Company Fluid flow sensor using driver and reference electromechanical resonators
US11860014B2 (en) * 2022-02-11 2024-01-02 Perceptive Sensor Technologies, Inc. Acoustic signal detection of material composition in static and dynamic conditions
US11940420B2 (en) 2022-07-19 2024-03-26 Perceptive Sensor Technologies, Inc. Acoustic signal material identification with nanotube couplant

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4015470A (en) * 1973-12-26 1977-04-05 Trw Inc. Flow measuring method and apparatus
US4420980A (en) * 1980-10-06 1983-12-20 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Arrangement for measuring the pressure in cylindrical cavities

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5570715A (en) * 1978-11-22 1980-05-28 Fuji Electric Co Ltd Ultrasonic wave flow meter
US4240299A (en) * 1980-01-11 1980-12-23 J-Tec Associates, Inc. Method and apparatus for determining fluid density and mass flow
US4535631A (en) * 1982-09-29 1985-08-20 Schlumberger Technology Corporation Surface acoustic wave sensors
GB2139352A (en) * 1983-05-04 1984-11-07 Central Electr Generat Board Fluid temperature and velocity measuring arrangement
JPS61120015A (en) * 1984-11-16 1986-06-07 Fuji Electric Co Ltd Ultrasonic flow meter
GB8710064D0 (en) * 1987-04-28 1987-06-03 Micronics Ltd Ultrasonic fluid flowmeter

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4015470A (en) * 1973-12-26 1977-04-05 Trw Inc. Flow measuring method and apparatus
US4420980A (en) * 1980-10-06 1983-12-20 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Arrangement for measuring the pressure in cylindrical cavities

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of EP0598720A4 *

Cited By (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1994004890A1 (en) * 1992-08-25 1994-03-03 Kamstrup A/S Flow meter
EP1243901A1 (en) * 1999-06-24 2002-09-25 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Flowmeter
EP1243901A4 (en) * 1999-06-24 2006-07-05 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Flowmeter
WO2007040980A1 (en) * 2005-09-29 2007-04-12 Rosemount Inc. Pressure transmitter with acoustic pressure sensor
US7379792B2 (en) 2005-09-29 2008-05-27 Rosemount Inc. Pressure transmitter with acoustic pressure sensor
US9709448B2 (en) 2013-12-18 2017-07-18 Siemens Energy, Inc. Active measurement of gas flow temperature, including in gas turbine combustors
US9945737B2 (en) 2014-03-13 2018-04-17 Siemens Energy, Inc. Method for determining waveguide temperature for acoustic transceiver used in a gas turbine engine
US9752959B2 (en) 2014-03-13 2017-09-05 Siemens Energy, Inc. Nonintrusive transceiver and method for characterizing temperature and velocity fields in a gas turbine combustor
US9746360B2 (en) 2014-03-13 2017-08-29 Siemens Energy, Inc. Nonintrusive performance measurement of a gas turbine engine in real time
CN106233110A (en) * 2014-04-23 2016-12-14 西门子能源有限公司 For being determined by the intersection point of acoustical signal to the method optimizing the basic point used in the temperature map of turbine hot gas flow path
CN106233109A (en) * 2014-04-23 2016-12-14 西门子能源有限公司 The method determining the waveguide temperature of the acoustic transceiver for gas-turbine unit
WO2015164313A1 (en) * 2014-04-23 2015-10-29 Siemens Energy, Inc. Method for determining waveguide temperature for acoustic transceiver used in a gas turbine engine
WO2015164466A1 (en) * 2014-04-23 2015-10-29 Siemens Energy, Inc. Method for optimizing base points used in temperature mapping of a turbine hot gas flow path by determining acoustic signal intersection points
CN106233109B (en) * 2014-04-23 2019-03-12 西门子能源有限公司 The method for determining the waveguide temperature of the acoustic transceiver for gas-turbine unit
CN106233110B (en) * 2014-04-23 2020-06-16 西门子能源有限公司 Method for optimizing base points used in a temperature map of a turbine hot gas flow path by determining intersection points of acoustic signals
FR3035497A1 (en) * 2015-04-21 2016-10-28 Commissariat Energie Atomique SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEASURING FLUID FLOW BY ACOUSTIC WAVE PROCESSING
EP3086098A1 (en) * 2015-04-21 2016-10-26 Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives System and method for measuring a flow of fluid by acoustic wave treatment
US9921087B2 (en) 2015-04-21 2018-03-20 Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives System and method for measuring a fluid flow rate by provoking destructive interferences between acoustic waves propagating in opposite directions with respect to the flow of the fluid
EP3255390B1 (en) * 2016-06-10 2021-08-04 em-tec GmbH Device and method for measuring flows in a fluid line
CN106289568A (en) * 2016-07-27 2017-01-04 西北工业大学 A kind of detonation flame temperature measurement system and the method for reconstructing of three-dimensional temperature field

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0598720A4 (en) 1994-06-29
EP0598720A1 (en) 1994-06-01
JP3110042B2 (en) 2000-11-20
US5040415A (en) 1991-08-20
DE69118555T2 (en) 1996-11-21
CA2104125A1 (en) 1993-02-15
EP0598720B1 (en) 1996-04-03
DE69118555D1 (en) 1996-05-09
JPH07504744A (en) 1995-05-25

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US5040415A (en) Nonintrusive flow sensing system
US7258024B2 (en) Simplified fluid property measurement
EP1194773B1 (en) High-precision measuring method and apparatus for a transit-time-related parameter
US6691582B1 (en) Gas type identification system
US5719329A (en) Ultrasonic measuring system and method of operation
US4696191A (en) Apparatus and method for void/particulate detection
US6595071B1 (en) Estimation of error angle in ultrasound flow measurement
US9194730B2 (en) Method and apparatus for determining the phase compositions of a multiphase fluid flow
US20150043612A1 (en) Method for heat quantity measurement with an ultrasonic, flow measuring device
US20170328751A1 (en) Method for detection of pipeline vibrations and measuring instrument
US7379792B2 (en) Pressure transmitter with acoustic pressure sensor
US20030167836A1 (en) Low-flow extension for flow measurement device
JPH0532734Y2 (en)
EP2428776B1 (en) A method and apparatus for measuring a gas flow velocity
WO2021057288A1 (en) Pipe creep measurement system and method
JPH0447770B2 (en)
JP3469405B2 (en) Temperature measurement device
JP2008058057A (en) Ultrasonic flowmeter
JPH02107924A (en) Two-phase flow ultrasonic type flow rate measuring method and apparatus
KR100321074B1 (en) Measuring method of distance between sensors of ultrasonic flowmeter
JPH0791996A (en) Ultrasonic flowmeter
WO2023191763A1 (en) Flowmeter primary containment failure detection
WO2019034897A2 (en) Coriolis flow meter
JPH04148835A (en) Gas-leakage detector
JPS60162925A (en) Ultrasonic flow meter

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): CA JP US

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IT LU NL SE

DFPE Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101)
WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 1991916176

Country of ref document: EP

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 2104125

Country of ref document: CA

WWP Wipo information: published in national office

Ref document number: 1991916176

Country of ref document: EP

WWG Wipo information: grant in national office

Ref document number: 1991916176

Country of ref document: EP