US4947128A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Co-variance microwave water cut monitoring means and method
Assignee: Texaco Inc
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Filing: 1989-02-23
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Granted: 1990-08-07
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Expires: 2009-02-23
Abstract
Abstract A co-variance microwave water cut monitor includes a test cell having a petroleum stress flowing through it while permitting the microwave energy to enter the test cell. A microwave source provides microwave energy to a circulator which in turn provides the microwave energy to an antenna. The antenna provides the petroleum stream in the test cell with the microwave energy and receives reflected microwave energy back from the stream. The reflected microwave energy is provided by the antenna to the circulator which in turn provides the reflected microwave energy as test microwave energy. A detector assembly connected to the circulator detects the intensity of the test microwave energy and provides a corresponding intensity signal. Indicator apparatus connected to the circulator to the microwave source and to the detector assembly provides an indication of the water cut of the petroleum stream in accordance with the intensity signal and the phase difference between the source provided microwave energy and the test microwave energy.
Inventors
- 👤 Gregory J. Hatton
- 👤 David A. Helms
- 👤 Michael G. Durrett
- 👤 John D. Marrelli
- 👤 Joseph D. Stafford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 05:37
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N22/00; G01N22/04; G01N33/00; G01N33/26; G01N33/28; G01N33/2823
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A petroleum stream microwave watercut monitor comprising: test cell means for having a petroleum stream flowing through it while permitting microwave energy to enter the test cell means, source means for providing microwave energy, antenna means for providing the petroleum stream flowing in the test cell means with microwave energy and for receiving reflected microwave energy back from the stream in the test cell means, circulating means connected to the source means and to the antenna means for providing the microwave energy from the source means to the antenna means and for providing reflected microwave energy from the antenna means as test microwave energy, detector means connected to the circulating means for the detecting the intensity of the test microwave energy and providing an intensity signal corresponding thereto, and indicator means connected to the source means and to the detector means for providing an indication of the watercut of the petroleum stream in accordance with the intensity signal and the phase difference between the source provided microwave energy and the test microwave energy.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
A petroleum stream microwave watercut monitor comprising: test cell means for having a petroleum stream flowing through it while permitting microwave energy to enter the test cell means, source means for providing microwave energy, antenna means for providing the petroleum stream flowing in the test cell means with microwave energy and for receiving reflected microwave energy back from the stream in the test cell means, circulating means connected to the source means and to the antenna means for providing the microwave energy from the source means to the antenna means and for providing reflected microwave energy from the antenna means as test microwave energy, detector means connected to the circulating means for the detecting the intensity of the test microwave energy and providing an intensity signal corresponding thereto, and indicator means connected to the source means and to the detector means for providing an indication of the watercut of the petroleum stream in accordance with the intensity signal and the phase difference between the source provided microwave energy and the test microwave energy.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
121 words
A monitor as described in claim 1 in which the indicator means further comprises: a voltage controlled phase shifter receiving the microwave energy from said source means for phase shifting the source provided microwave energy in accordance with a phase shift signal to provide a reference microwave energy and to provide an enabling signal when the phase shifting is completed, and phase shift signal means receiving the reference microwave energy and the test microwave energy for providing the phase shift signal to the phase shifter until there is substantially a 90 phase difference between the reference microwave energy and the test microwave energy at which time the phase shifter's indicated phase shift corresponds to the water cut of the petroleum stream.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
114 words
A monitor as described in claim 2 in which the phase shift signal means includes: mixer means connected to the circulating means for mixing the reference microwave energy from the phase shifter with the test microwave energy from the circulating means to provide two signals representative of the phases of the reference microwave energy and the test microwave energy from the circulating means, a differential amplifier connected to the mixer means provides an output signal in accordance with the difference between the two signals from the mixer means, and a feedback network connected to the phase shifter and to the differential amplifier which provides the phase shift signal in accordance with the output signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
A monitor as described in claim 3 in which the indicator means further includes: water cut means connected to the phase shifter, to the detector means and to the phase shift signal means and responsive to the enabling signal from the phase shifter for determining the water cut of the petroleum stream in accordance with the intensity signal and the phase shift, and providing water cut signals corresponding thereto.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A monitor as described in claim 4 in which the indicator means further includes: read-out connected to the water cut means for providing a read-out of the selected water-cut value in accordance with the water cut signals from the computer means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
138 words
A petroleum stream microwave watercut monitoring method comprising the steps of: providing microwave energy from a source, using antenna means to provide a petroleum stream with the microwave energy from the source, receiving reflected microwave energy back from the petroleum stream with the antenna means, using circulator means connected to the source and to the antenna to provide the microwave energy from the source means to the antenna means and to provide the reflected microwave energy from the antenna means as test microwave energy, detecting the intensity of the test microwave energy, providing an intensity signal corresponding to the detected intensity of the test microwave energy, and providing an indication of the watercut of the petroleum stream in accordance with the intensity signal and the phase difference between the source provided microwave energy and the test microwave energy.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
138 words
A petroleum stream microwave watercut monitoring method comprising the steps of: providing microwave energy from a source, using antenna means to provide a petroleum stream with the microwave energy from the source, receiving reflected microwave energy back from the petroleum stream with the antenna means, using circulator means connected to the source and to the antenna to provide the microwave energy from the source means to the antenna means and to provide the reflected microwave energy from the antenna means as test microwave energy, detecting the intensity of the test microwave energy, providing an intensity signal corresponding to the detected intensity of the test microwave energy, and providing an indication of the watercut of the petroleum stream in accordance with the intensity signal and the phase difference between the source provided microwave energy and the test microwave energy.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method as described in claim 6 in which the indicator step further comprises: phase shifting the source provided microwave energy in accordance with a phase shift signal to provide a reference microwave energy, providing an enabling signal when the phase shifting is completed, and providing the phase shift signal until there is substantially a 90° phase difference between the reference microwave energy and the test microwave energy.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
76 words
A method as described in claim 7 in which the phase shift signal step includes: mixing the reference microwave energy with the test microwave energy to provide two signals representative of the phases of the reference microwave energy and the test microwave energy from the circulating means, providing an output signal in accordance with the difference between the two signals from the mixer step, and providing the phase shift signal in accordance with the output signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as described in claim 8 in which the indicator means further includes: determining the water cut of the petroleum stream in accordance with the intensity signal and the phase shift signal, and providing water cut signals corresponding to the determined water cut.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A monitor as described in claim 9 in which the indicator step further includes: providing a read-out of the selected water-cut value in accordance with the water cut signals.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-08-06 | 1994-02-05 | 1994-08-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-08-06 | 1998-02-05 | 1998-08-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-08-06 | 2002-02-05 | 2002-08-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |