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US4706492A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and apparatus for determining real gas effects in critical flow nozzles

Assignee: Chevron USA Inc
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Filing: 1986-06-16
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Granted: 1987-11-17
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Expires: 2006-06-16
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Abstract

Abstract A method and apparatus for determining the gas flow rate in a high pressure critical flow nozzle is disclosed. A high pressure gas flows through a first critical flow nozzle. Upstream of the first critical flow nozzle a small slip-stream of gas is removed and flows through a smaller second critical flow nozzle. The small second critical flow nozzle drops the pressure of the gas to a low level. This flow rate of this low pressure gas stream is measured in a highly accurate low pressure gas flow rate measuring device. Since the flow rate in this device must be the same as that of the second critical flow nozzle, a correction factor can be calculated for the second critical flow nozzle. This flow rate correction factor will be the same for the first critical flow nozzle.

Inventors

  • 👤 Emrys H. Jones, Jr.
  • 👤 Robert E. Jackson

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 18:58
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F25/00; G01F25/10; G01F25/15

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 160 words
Apparatus for determining the gas flow rate of a high pressure gas through a critical flow nozzle comprising: a first critical flow nozzle in a high pressure gas flow line; a branch line, said branch line upstream of said first critical flow nozzle, of significantly smaller diameter than said gas flow line, and tubularly connected to said gas flow line; a second critical flow nozzle, said second critical flow nozzle located in said branch line; a low pressure gas flow measuring means, said low pressure gas measuring means downstream of said second critical flow nozzle in said branch line; a first pressure measuring means, said first pressure measuring means located in said gas flow line upstream of said first critical flow nozzle, whereby a pressure within the flow line can be determined; and a first temperature measuring means, said first temperature measuring means located in said gas flow line, whereby a temperature in said gas flow line can be determined.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 160 words
Apparatus for determining the gas flow rate of a high pressure gas through a critical flow nozzle comprising: a first critical flow nozzle in a high pressure gas flow line; a branch line, said branch line upstream of said first critical flow nozzle, of significantly smaller diameter than said gas flow line, and tubularly connected to said gas flow line; a second critical flow nozzle, said second critical flow nozzle located in said branch line; a low pressure gas flow measuring means, said low pressure gas measuring means downstream of said second critical flow nozzle in said branch line; a first pressure measuring means, said first pressure measuring means located in said gas flow line upstream of said first critical flow nozzle, whereby a pressure within the flow line can be determined; and a first temperature measuring means, said first temperature measuring means located in said gas flow line, whereby a temperature in said gas flow line can be determined.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 73 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein: said low pressure gas flow measuring means is a third critical flow nozzle; a second pressure measuring means is located in said branch line, upstream of said third critical flow nozzle, and downstream of said second critical flow nozzle; and a second temperature measuring means is located in said branch line upstream of said third critical flow nozzle and downstream of said second critical flow nozzle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 20 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein: said low pressure gas measuring means is an accurate low volume proving meter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 133 words
Apparatus for calibrating a gas metering device comprising: a first critical flow nozzle, said critical flow nozzle located in a gas flow line downstream of a meter to be calibrated; a branch line, said branch line downstream of said meter and having a substantially smaller diameter than said gas flow line and tubularly connected to said gas flow line; a second critical flow nozzle, said second critical flow nozzle located in said branch line; a gas flow rate measuring means, said gas flow rate measuring means located in said branch line, downstream of said second critical flow nozzle; a first pressure measuring means located in said flow line, upstream of said first critical flow nozzle; and a first temperature measuring means located in said flow line upstream of said first critical flow nozzle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 133 words
Apparatus for calibrating a gas metering device comprising: a first critical flow nozzle, said critical flow nozzle located in a gas flow line downstream of a meter to be calibrated; a branch line, said branch line downstream of said meter and having a substantially smaller diameter than said gas flow line and tubularly connected to said gas flow line; a second critical flow nozzle, said second critical flow nozzle located in said branch line; a gas flow rate measuring means, said gas flow rate measuring means located in said branch line, downstream of said second critical flow nozzle; a first pressure measuring means located in said flow line, upstream of said first critical flow nozzle; and a first temperature measuring means located in said flow line upstream of said first critical flow nozzle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 70 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein: said gas flow rate measuring means is a third critical flow nozzle; a second pressure measuring means is located in said branch line, downstream of said second critical flow nozzle, upstream of said third critical flow nozzle; and a second temperature measuring means is located in said branch line, downstream of said second critical flow nozzle, upstream of said third critical flow nozzle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 17 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein: said gas flow rate measuring means is a meter prover.

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1990-11-16 1991-05-18 1991-11-17 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1994-11-16 1995-05-18 1995-11-17 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1998-11-16 1999-05-18 1999-11-17 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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