Patent DE91064C successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5115670A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5115670A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Measurement of fluid properties of two-phase fluids using an ultrasonic meter
Assignee: Chevron USA Inc
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Filing: 1990-03-09
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Granted: 1992-05-26
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Expires: 2010-03-09
Abstract
Abstract A method is disclosed for determining the composition of a two-phase fluid, such as saturated steam. In that method, the transit times of sound are measured within the two-phase fluid, the speed of sound of the two-phase fluid is calculated from the measured transit times, and the composition of the two-phase fluid is calculated from the calculated speed of sound. From the calculated linear velocity and the calculated composition, one can calculate at least one fluid property of the two-phase fluid, such as mass flow rate or energy flow rate. All of these calculations can be performed by a microprocessor.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph Shen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 03:04
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F1/00; G01F1/66; G01F1/74; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/02; G01N29/024; G01N29/44; G01N29/4472; G01N2291/00; G01N2291/02; G01N2291/022; G01N2291/0222; G01N2291/024; G01N2291/02425; G01N2291/025; G01N2291/0253; G01N2291/028; G01N2291/02836; G01N2291/10; G01N2291/102
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for determining the composition of a flowing two-phase fluid that has a gaseous phase and a liquid phase comprising: (a) measuring transit times of sound within said two-phase fluid using a pair of acoustic transducers that alternately act as transmitters and receivers in sending and receiving pulses, (b) calculating the speed of sound of said two-phase fluid from said measured transit times, and (c) calculating the composition of said two-phase fluid from said calculated speed of sound.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for determining the composition of a flowing two-phase fluid that has a gaseous phase and a liquid phase comprising: (a) measuring transit times of sound within said two-phase fluid using a pair of acoustic transducers that alternately act as transmitters and receivers in sending and receiving pulses, (b) calculating the speed of sound of said two-phase fluid from said measured transit times, and (c) calculating the composition of said two-phase fluid from said calculated speed of sound.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said two-phase fluid is steam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein said steam is saturated steam.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for determining at least one fluid property of a flowing two-phase fluid comprising: (a) measuring transit times of sound within the two-phase fluid using a pair of acoustic transducers that alternately act as transmitters and receivers in sending and receiving pulses, (b) calculating both the speed of sound and the linear velocity of said two-phase fluid from said measured transit times, (c) calculating the composition of said two-phase fluid from said calculated speed of sound, and (d) calculating at least one fluid property of said two-phase fluid form said calculated linear velocity and said calculated composition.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for determining at least one fluid property of a flowing two-phase fluid comprising: (a) measuring transit times of sound within the two-phase fluid using a pair of acoustic transducers that alternately act as transmitters and receivers in sending and receiving pulses, (b) calculating both the speed of sound and the linear velocity of said two-phase fluid from said measured transit times, (c) calculating the composition of said two-phase fluid from said calculated speed of sound, and (d) calculating at least one fluid property of said two-phase fluid form said calculated linear velocity and said calculated composition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein said two-phase fluid is a homogeneous, saturated steam.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein said fluid property is selected from the group consisting of mass flow rate and energy flow rate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein all of said calculations are performed by a microprocessor.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
71 words
An apparatus for determining the composition of a two-phase fluid comprising: (a) a pair of acoustic transducers that alternately act as transmitters and receivers in sending and receiving pulses for measuring transit times of sound within the two-phase fluid, and (b) means for calculating both the speed of sound of said two-phase fluid from said measured transit times and the composition of said two-phase fluid from said calculated speed of sound.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
71 words
An apparatus for determining the composition of a two-phase fluid comprising: (a) a pair of acoustic transducers that alternately act as transmitters and receivers in sending and receiving pulses for measuring transit times of sound within the two-phase fluid, and (b) means for calculating both the speed of sound of said two-phase fluid from said measured transit times and the composition of said two-phase fluid from said calculated speed of sound.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
100 words
An apparatus for determining at least one fluid property of a two-phase fluid comprising: (a) a pair of acoustic transducers that alternately act as transmitters and receivers in sending and receiving pulses for measuring the transit times of sound within the two-phase fluid, and (b) a calculating means for calculating: (2) the speed of sound the linear velocity of said two-phase fluid from said measured transit times, (2) the composition of said two-phase fluid from said calculated speed of sound, and (3) at least one fluid property of said two-phase fluid from said calculated linear velocity and said calculated composition.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
100 words
An apparatus for determining at least one fluid property of a two-phase fluid comprising: (a) a pair of acoustic transducers that alternately act as transmitters and receivers in sending and receiving pulses for measuring the transit times of sound within the two-phase fluid, and (b) a calculating means for calculating: (2) the speed of sound the linear velocity of said two-phase fluid from said measured transit times, (2) the composition of said two-phase fluid from said calculated speed of sound, and (3) at least one fluid property of said two-phase fluid from said calculated linear velocity and said calculated composition.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said calculating means is a microprocessor.
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) | 1995-05-26 | 1995-11-25 | 1996-05-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-05-26 | 1999-11-25 | 2000-05-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-05-26 | 2003-11-25 | 2004-05-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |