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    • 专利摘要:
    ULTRASONIC FLOW MEASUREMENT SYSTEM, METHOD FOR TEMPERATURE COMPENSATION IN ULTRASONIC MEASUREMENT, AND, FLOW PROCESSOR Device and methods for checking temperature measurements on an ultrasonic flow meter. An ultrasonic flow measurement system includes a fluid flow passage, a temperature sensor, an ultrasonic flow meter, and a flow processor. The temperature sensor is arranged to provide a measured temperature of the fluid flowing through the passage. The ultrasonic flow meter is configured to measure the transit time of an ultrasonic signal through the fluid. The flow processor is configured to 1) compute the speed of sound through the fluid, based on transit time; 2) calculate a computed fluid temperature, based on the speed of sound; 3) apply compensation, based on a historical difference between the computed temperature and the measured temperature, in a temperature verification parameter; and 4) determine, based on the temperature verification parameter, whether a current difference between the measured temperature and the computed temperature is within the predetermined range.
    公开号:BR112015005052B1
    申请号:R112015005052-2
    申请日:2013-09-06
    公开日:2020-10-20
    发明作者:Lawson Ramsay
    申请人:Daniel Measurement And Control, Inc；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    RELATED ORDER REFERENCE
    [001] The present invention claims priority for US Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 697,922, filed on September 7, 2012 (Attorney's Case No. 1787-27500, M&C 201209) and US Patent Application No. 13 / 928,635, deposited on June 27, 2013 (Attorney's Portfolio No. 1787-27501, M&C 201209); which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety here. FUNDAMENTALS
    [002] Natural gas is transported from place to place via pipelines. It is desirable to know with precision the amount of gas flowing into the pipeline and particular precision is required when the fluid is changing hands or in "custody transfer". Even when transfer of custody is not taking place, however, measurement accuracy is desirable and, in these situations, flow meters can be used.
    [003] Ultrasonic flow meters are a type of flow meter that can be used to measure the amount of fluid flowing into a pipeline. Ultrasonic flowmeters are sufficiently accurate to be used in custody transfer. In an ultrasonic flow meter, the acoustic signals are sent back and forth through the fluid stream to be measured. Based on the acoustic signal parameters received, the flow rate of the fluid in the flow meter is determined. The volume of fluid flowing through the meter can be determined by the flow rates determined and the known cross-sectional area of the flow meter.
    [004] Several transducers are used in conjunction with an ultrasonic flow meter to measure fluid flow parameters. For example, transducers can be used to measure temperature, pressure, gas composition, density, relative density, calorific value, etc. of the fluid stream.
    [005] Accurate temperature measurement is important in flow measurement systems, to allow mass calculations, volume correction and energy to be performed. The speed of a sound in a gas (for example, natural gas) is dependent on the composition of the gas and the temperature and pressure of the gas. Conversely, temperature can be considered to be a function of the speed of sound in the gas, composition and pressure of the gas. In an ultrasonic measurement system, equipped with pressure transducers and gas composition, the measured speed of sound (computed by the transit times of the acoustic signals), the pressure and gas composition can be used to estimate the temperature. SUMMARY
    [006] Here are described apparatus and methods for verifying temperature measurements in an ultrasonic flow measurement system. An ultrasonic flow measurement system includes a fluid flow passage, a temperature sensor, an ultrasonic flow meter and a flow processor. The temperature sensor is arranged to provide a measured temperature of the fluid flowing through the passage. The ultrasonic flow meter is configured to measure the transit time of an ultrasonic signal through the fluid. The flow processor is configured to 1) compute the speed of sound through the fluid, based on transit time; 2) calculate the computed temperature of the fluid based on the speed of sound; 3) apply compensation, based on a historical difference between the computed temperature and the measured temperature, to a temperature verification parameter; and 4) determine, based on the temperature verification parameter, whether the current difference between the measured temperature and the computed temperature is within a predetermined temperature verification range.
    [007] In another embodiment, a method for temperature compensation in ultrasonic measurement includes measuring the temperature of a stream of fluid flowing through an ultrasonic flow meter. The transit times of the ultrasonic signals through the fluid stream are measured. The computed temperature of the fluid stream is calculated based on transit times. Whether a given difference between the measured temperature and the computed temperature is within a predetermined temperature check range is determined. Before determining, at least one of the measured temperature, the computed temperature, the predetermined temperature check range and the given difference is compensated based on a historical difference between the computed temperature and the measured temperature.
    [008] In another embodiment, a flow processor includes a temperature derivation motor, a temperature verification motor and a temperature compensation motor. The temperature drift motor is configured to calculate a computed temperature of a fluid stream based on the measured speed of sound through the fluid stream. The temperature check engine is configured to determine whether a current difference in the computed temperature and the measured temperature of the fluid stream is within a predetermined check range. The temperature compensation motor is configured to determine a compensation value based on a historical difference between the computed temperature and the measured temperature. The temperature compensation motor is also configured to apply the compensation value to at least one of the measured temperature, the computed temperature, the predetermined checking range and the current difference, for use by the temperature checking motor.
    [009] In yet another embodiment, an ultrasonic flow measurement system includes a fluid flow passage, an ultrasonic flow meter and a processor. The ultrasonic flow meter is configured to measure the transit time of an ultrasonic signal through the fluid. The flow processor is configured to: 1) compute the speed of sound through the fluid, based on transit time; 2) calculate the computed temperature of the fluid, based on the speed of sound; 3) apply compensation, based on a historical difference between the computed temperature and the measured temperature, at the computed temperature; and 4) determining the flow volume through the passage, based on the compensated computed temperature. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
    [0010] For a detailed description of exemplary modalities of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows an ultrasonic flow measurement system according to various modalities; Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional top view of an ultrasonic flow meter, according to various modalities; Fig. 3 shows an illustrative plot of the measured temperature and computed temperature in an ultrasonic flow measurement system; Figure 4 shows a block diagram of a flow processor according to several modalities; Figure 5 shows an illustrative plot of a measured temperature and computed temperature compensated in an ultrasonic flow measurement system, according to several modalities; Figure 6 shows a plot illustrating the difference in measured temperature and computed temperature compensated in an ultrasonic flow measurement system, according to several modalities; Figure 7 shows a block diagram of a processor-based modality of a flow processor; and Figure 8 shows a flow chart for a method for verifying temperature measurement in an ultrasonic flow measurement system, according to various modalities. NOTATION AND NOMENCLATURE
    [0011] In the following discussion and in the claims, the terms "including" and "comprising" are used in an unlimited manner and thus must be interpreted to mean "including but not limited to". In addition, the term “couple” or “couple” is intended to mean an indirect or direct electrical connection. Thus, if a first device couples to a second device, this connection can be through a direct electrical connection or through an indirect electrical connection, made via other devices and connections. In addition, the term "software" includes any executable code, capable of operating on a processor, regardless of the media used to store the software. Thus, code stored in memory (for example, non-volatile memory) and sometimes referred to as “embedded firmware”, is included within the software definition. The quote "based on" is intended to mean "based at least in part on". Therefore, if X is based on Y, X can be based on Y and any number of other factors. The term "fluid" includes liquids and gases. The term "fluid" includes liquids and gases. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
    [0012] The following description is addressed to several exemplary embodiments of the invention. The drawing figures are not necessarily to scale. Certain details of the modalities may be shown exaggerated in scale or in a somewhat schematic form and some details of conventional elements may not be shown in the interests of clarity and conciseness. The described modalities should not be interpreted or otherwise used to limit the scope of the description, including the claims. In addition, a person skilled in the art will understand that the following description has wide application and the discussion of any modality is intended only to be an example of that modality and not intended to admit that the scope of the description, including the claims, is limited to that modality. It must be fully recognized that the different teachings of the modalities discussed below can be used separately or in any suitable combination to produce the desired results. In addition, the various modalities were developed in the context of measuring hydrocarbon flows (for example, crude oil, natural gas) and the description follows the developmental context; however, the systems and methods described are equally applicable to the measurement of any fluid flow.
    [0013] Because the temperature of the fluid affects the speed of sound through the fluid and, in turn, affects the accuracy of the ultrasonic flow measurement, proper operation of the temperature transducers employed in ultrasonic measurement should be routinely checked. The temperature measurement accuracy required in an ultrasonic measurement system can be governed by one or more national, international and / or industry standards or regulations. For example, the NORSOX 1-104 standard for fiscal measurement systems for hydrocarbon gas specifies that the total uncertainty of temperature measurement is better than ± 0.15 ° Celsius.
    [0014] Conventional methods of verifying temperature measurement instrumentation (eg, temperature transducer, temperature transmitter, etc.) in an ultrasonic flow measurement system apply preventive maintenance for on-site verification. For example, the temperature measurements provided by the temperature measurement instrumentation of the measurement system can be compared against concomitant measurements, provided with temperature measurement equipment calibrated by an accredited laboratory. Such verification requires the addition of a thermal test well and trapping of the measurement system. Alternatively, the measurement system can include two sets and temperature measurement instrumentation, to allow continuous comparison of the redundant instrumentation. Unfortunately, conventional methods tend to increase the cost of the system by requiring additional equipment and / or system shutdown.
    [0015] The modalities of the ultrasonic measurement system described here verify the operation of the temperature measurement instrumentation, without additional equipment and without a closed system, thereby reducing the total cost of the system. The modalities described here compare the temperature measurements provided by the temperature measurement instrumentation of the measurement system with the temperature values computed based on the measurements of the speed of sound, fluid pressure, fluid composition etc., provided by the measurement system. ultrasonic. The modalities include compensation to adjust the computed temperature values. The compensated temperature values can be compared with the measured temperature values, to determine whether the performance of the temperature measurement instrumentation meets an applicable standard. Lacking the compensation described here, discrepancies between measured and computed temperature values can inhibit the comparison.
    [0016] Figure 1 shows an ultrasonic flow measurement system 100, according to several modalities. System 100 includes an ultrasonic flow meter 101, sensors 134, 136, 138 and a flow processor 128. In system 100, ultrasonic flow meter 101 is coupled to a tube or other structure 132. In some embodiments, tube 132 is arranged to downstream of the ultrasonic flowmeter 101. Tube 132 includes openings 144 that allow sensors 134-138 to access the fluid stream flowing through system 100. Flow processor 128 is coupled to sensors 134-138 and ultrasonic meter 101. In in some embodiments, the flow processor 128 can be integrated with electronics 124 of the ultrasonic meter 101.
    [0017] The ultrasonic flow meter 101 includes a measuring body or spool piece 102, which defines a central passage or hole. The spool part 102 is designed and constructed to be attached to a pipeline or other structure carrying fluids (for example, natural gas), so that the fluids flowing into the pipeline travel through the central hole. Although the fluids move through the central hole, the ultrasonic flowmeter 101 measures the flow (as a result, the fluid can be referred to as the measured fluid). The spool part 102 includes flanges 106 that facilitate the coupling of the spool part 102 in another structure. In other embodiments, any suitable system for coupling the spool part 102 to a frame can be used equivalently (for example, solder connections).
    [0018] In order to measure the fluid flow within the spool part 102, the ultrasonic flowmeter 101 includes a plurality of transducer units. In the view of Figure 1, five of such transducer units 108, 110, 112, 116 and 120 are in full or partial view. The transducer units are paired (for example, transducer units 108 and 110), as will be discussed further below. In addition, each transducer unit electrically couples to the control electronics package 124. More particularly, each transducer unit is electrically coupled to the control electronics package 124 by means of a respective cable 126 or equivalent signal conductor unit.
    [0019] Figure 2 shows a top cross-sectional view of the ultrasonic flowmeter 101. The spool piece 102 has a predetermined size and defines the central hole 104 through which the measured fluid flows. An illustrative pair of transducer units 112ell4 is located along the length of the spool piece 102. Transducers 112 and 114 are acoustic transceivers and, more particularly, ultrasonic transceivers. Ultrasonic transducers 112, 114 both generate and receive acoustic signals having frequencies above about 20 kilohertz. The acoustic signals can be generated and received by a piezoelectric element in each transducer. To generate an ultrasonic signal, the piezoelectric element is electrically stimulated by means of a signal (for example, a sinusoidal signal) and the element responds by vibrating. The vibration of the piezoelectric element generates the acoustic signal that travels through the measured fluid to the corresponding transducer unit of the pair. Similarly, when struck by an acoustic signal, the receiving piezoelectric element vibrates and generates an electrical signal (for example, a sinusoidal signal) that is detected, digitized and analyzed by electronics 124 associated with flowmeter 101.
    [0020] A path 200, also referred to as a "string", exists between the illustrative transducer units 112 and 114 at an angle θ to a central line 202. The length of the string 200 is the distance between the face of the transducer unit 112 and the face of transducer unit 114. Points 204 and 206 define the locations where the acoustic signals generated by transducer units 112 and 114 enter and allow fluid to flow through the spool part 102 (ie, the entrance to the bore of the spool part) . The position of transducer units 112 and 114 can be defined by angle 6 * for a first length L, measured between the faces of transducer units 112 and 114, a second length X, corresponding to the axial distance between points 204 and 206 and a third length d, corresponding to the inner diameter of the tube. In most cases, the distances d, XeL are precisely determined during the manufacture of the flow meter. A measured fluid, such as natural gas, flows in a direction 208 with a velocity profile 210. The velocity vectors 212, 214, 216e218 illustrate that the velocity of the gas through the spool part 102 increases towards the center line 202 of the part spool 102.
    [0021] Initially, the downstream transducer unit 112 generates an ultrasonic signal that is incident on and, thus, detected by the upstream transducer unit 114. Sometime later, the upstream transducer unit 114 generates an ultrasonic feedback signal, which it is subsequently incident on and detected by the downstream transducer unit 112. Thus, the transducer units exchange or play “pitch and grab” with ultrasonic signals 220 along a 200 chord path. During operation, this sequence can occur thousands of times per minute.
    [0022] The transit time of an ultrasonic signal 220 between illustrative transducer units 112 and 114 depends in part on whether the ultrasonic signal 220 is traveling upstream or downstream with respect to the fluid flow. The transit time for an ultrasonic signal traveling downstream (that is, in the same direction as the fluid flow) is less than the transit time when traveling upstream (that is, against the fluid flow) . Upstream and downstream transit times can be used to calculate the average speed along the signal path, and the speed of sound in the measured fluid. Given the cross-section measurements of the flowmeter 101 containing the fluid, the average velocity through the area of the central hole 104 can be used to find the volume of the fluid flowing through the spool piece 102.
    [0023] Ultrasonic flowmeters can have one or more strings. For example, flowmeter 101 includes four rope paths at variable elevations within the spool piece 102. Fluid flow velocity can be determined on each rope to obtain chordal flow velocities and combined chordal flow velocities to determine a flow velocity. medium flow through the entire tube. By the average flow speed, the amount of fluid flowing in the spool part and, thus, in the pipeline, can be determined.
    [0024] Typically, control electronics 124 causes transducers (eg 112, 114) to fire and receive output signals from the transducers. Control electronics 124 can also compute the average flow velocity for each string, compute the average flow velocity for the meter, compute the volumetric flow through the meter, compute the speed of sound through the fluid, perform meter diagnostics, etc. Volumetric flow and possibly other measured and computed values, such as flow speed and sound speed, can be output to additional devices, such as flow processor 128. As mentioned above, flow processor 128 can be included in control electronics 124 in some modalities.
    [0025] For a given chord, the chord flow velocity v is given by:
    and the cordial speed of sound is given by:
    where: Leo is the length of the path (that is, the face-to-face separation between the upstream and downstream transducers), X is the component of L inside the meter bore in the direction of flow, and Tup and Tdn are the transit times upstream and downstream of the sound energy through the fluid.
    [0026] The average flow speed through meter 101 is given by
    where: Wi is a chord weighting factor, Vi is the chord flow velocity, and the sum i is above all strings.
    [0027] Now returning to Figure 1, sensors 134-138 measure various attributes or parameters of the fluid and provide measurements for flow processor 128 via signal conduction means 142 (e.g., wiring). Sensor 134 is a gas composition sensor, such as a gas chromatograph, which provides information indicative of the quantity of each constituent of the gas flowing through system 100. Sensor 136 is a pressure sensor that provides signals indicating the pressure of the gas. fluid flowing into system 100. Sensor 138 is a temperature sensor (for example, a resistance temperature detector) that provides signals indicating the temperature of the fluid flowing through system 100. Temperature sensor 138 extends into the internal passage flowing through system 100. Temperature sensor 138 extends into internal passage 140 of tube 132 and measures the temperature of the fluid flowing through system 100 at the end of sensor 138. Thus, temperature sensor 138 is positioned to measure the fluid temperature at a specific elevation.
    [0028] From the composition, pressure and fluid temperature information provided by sensors 134, 136 and 138, respectively, flow processor 128 can compute the speed of sound through the fluid stream, using predetermined theoretical and experimental values . For example, flow processor 128 can compute the speed of the sun in the fluid, as specified in the American Gas Association Report No. 10, "Speed of Sound in Natural Gas and Other Related Hydrocarbons" (AGA 10). Some embodiments of the flow processor 128 may use this computed speed of sound to check the speed of the measured sound values for each string of meter 101.
    [0029] Similarly, based on the speed of the sound measurements provided by the ultrasonic flowmeter 101 and the measurements provided by sensors 134, 136, the flow processor 128 can compute the temperature of the fluid flowing through the ultrasonic measurement system 100. The processor flow 128 can compute the temperature using an iterative inverse of the sound computation speed specified by AGA 10, based on the measured speed of sound provided by the ultrasonic meter 101, fluid composition measured by sensor 134 and measured fluid pressure provided by sensor 136.
    [0030] Figure 3 shows an illustrative plot of the measured temperature and computed temperature in the ultrasonic flow measurement system 100. The flow processor 128 can calculate the computed temperature using an iterative inverse of the computation speed of sound, specified by AGA 10 , based on the measured speed of sound provided by the ultrasonic meter 101, measured fluid composition provided by sensor 134 and measured fluid pressure, provided by sensor 136. Fig. 3 also shows upper and lower alarm limits about the measured temperature. In this example, the upper and lower alarm limits are in accordance with the uncertainty limits of ± 0.15 ° C, specified by the Norwegian NORSOK standard. Alternatively, different limits, for example, limits imposed by a different standard, can be applied. Figure 3 shows that the computed temperature generally tracks the measured temperature, but the error between the two is too large to allow direct comparison when the applied alarm limits are considered.
    [0031] Several factors can contribute to the error between the measured temperature and the computed temperature. For example, contributions to the error may arise from: • uncertainty in calculating the computed temperature; • difference in temperature at the single measurement point of the temperature sensor and the temperature of the weighted average string of the computed temperature; • thermal interval between a resistive temperature detector (RTD) and temperature transmitter of temperature sensor 138; and / or • RTD size inadequacy for use with the installation profile of the 100 ultrasonic measurement system.
    [0032] The flow processor 128 modes apply a compensation factor to adjust for the error between the measured and computed temperature values. The application of the compensation factor allows the measured and computed temperature values to be directly compared, and the accuracy of the measured temperature to be judged based on the comparison. Fig. 4 shows a block diagram of flow processor 128, according to various modalities. The flow processor 128 includes a temperature drift motor 402, a compensation motor 404 and a temperature checking motor 406. The temperature drift motor 402 calculates the computed temperature of the fluid stream flowing through the ultrasonic measurement system 100. The measured fluid parameters 410 (eg pressure, compensation and speed of sound) are provided for the temperature drift motor 402 and the temperature drift motor 402 generates the computed temperature based on parameters 410. The motor derivation temperature 402 can reverse the speed of the sound computations specified by AGA 10, to generate the computed temperature.
    [0033] The temperature compensation motor 404 computes a compensation factor to be applied in determining whether the measured temperature 412 and the computed temperature 414 are sufficiently different to indicate a potential temperature measurement error. The compensation factor can be based on a historical difference between the measured temperature 412 and the computed temperature 414. Various modes of the temperature compensation motor 404 can apply the compensation factor to a temperature check parameter selected from: computed temperature, measured temperature, temperature check range (for example, a standard specified temperature uncertainty range) or a difference between measured and computed temperatures. As mentioned above, differences between the measured temperature and the computed temperature can be caused by one or more location-dependent variables. Therefore, the modalities of the temperature compensation engine 404 determine the value of the historical difference based on the measured temperature 412 and computed temperature 414 acquired after the system 100 is installed and operated in its operational location.
    [0034] Some modalities of the temperature compensation engine 404 can monitor the difference between the corresponding time values of the measured and computed temperatures 412, 414 over time, and generate a historical difference value as an average of the differences over time. In other embodiments, a single instantaneous difference between a measured temperature and a computed temperature 412.414 can be selected as the value of the historical difference (for example, if the measured differences and the computed temperatures are constant over time). In some embodiments, a plurality of historical values can be determined, each of the historical values corresponding to a predetermined measured or computed temperature range.
    [0035] The temperature compensation motor 404 can generate a compensated value of computed temperature, measured temperature or check range by moving the temperature value or check range by the historical value. For example, the temperature compensating motor 404 can add the historical value and the computed non-compensated temperature 414 to produce the compensated temperature 416, which can be directly compared to the measured temperature 412. Similarly, the temperature compensation motor 404 can add the historical value and the measured temperature 412 to produce the compensated temperature 416, which can be directly compared with the computed temperature 414.
    [0036] The temperature verification engine 406 generates an alert 420, indicating that the error between the measured temperature 412 and the computed temperature 414 is large enough to indicate a potential temperature measurement error. For example, the temperature verification motor 406 can compare the measured temperature 412 with the compensated computed temperature 416 and, if the difference between the measured temperature and the compensated computed temperature is outside the predetermined verification range (for example, a standard specified uncertainty), then the temperature verification engine 406 can express the alert 420. More generally, one of the computed and average temperatures is compensated and the other is not compensated. The temperature verification motor 406 can determine whether a difference between the compensated temperature value and the uncompensated temperature value is within the limits of the temperature check range.
    [0037] Figure 5 shows an illustrative plot of the measured temperature and the compensated temperature in the ultrasonic flow measurement system 100, according to several modalities. The data in Figure 5 corresponds to the data in Figure 3, with the compensation applied to the data in Figure 3 to generate the data in Figure 5. To generate the data in Figure 5, the temperature drift motor 402 calculated the computed temperature values shown in Figure 3 as outside the low and high limits of the check range. The temperature compensation engine 404 computed a historical difference value of -.037833 ° C, based on the computed and measured temperature values, and added the historical difference value to the computed temperature to generate the compensated temperature shown in Figure 5. As shown in Figure 5, due to the compensation, the difference between the measured temperature and the compensated temperature is relatively small and well within the limits of the temperature check range.
    [0038] In some modalities, the temperature compensation motor 404 applies the historical difference value to compensate for the temperature verification range. In such a mode, the compensation centers the temperature verification range on the historical difference value. The temperature verification engine 406 compares the historical difference between measured and computed temperatures. If the difference between the historical difference value and the current difference value exceeds the upper and lower limits of the compensated temperature check range, then the temperature check engine 406 reaffirms alert 420. Figure 6 shows an illustrative plot of the historical difference and current difference of the measured temperature and the computed temperature of the ultrasonic flow measurement system 100, according to various modalities. The data in Figure 6 corresponds to the data in Figure 3, with compensation applied to the data in Figure 3, to generate the data in Figure 6. The temperature compensation motor 404 generated a historical value of -.037833 ° C and applied the value history to move the temperature check range (that is, the range is centered on the historical difference). As shown in Figure 6, the difference between the temperature of the historical value and the value of the current difference is relatively small and well within the limits of the temperature check range. Alternatively, the temperature check range can be centered at zero and the difference between the measured and computed temperatures can be shifted according to the historical difference.
    [0039] Returning to Figure 4, the flow processor 128 modalities can also include a flow volume computing engine 408. The flow volume computing engine 408 determines the volume of the fluid flowing through the flow measurement system. ultrasonic flow 100 at a given temperature and pressure (for example, the current measured temperature and pressure of the fluid stream). In some embodiments, the flow volume computing engine 408 determines the flow volume based on the compensated temperature 416, generated by the temperature compensation engine 404, instead of the measured temperature provided by the temperature sensor 138.
    [0040] In some modalities of flow processor 128, the temperature compensation motor 404 applies the compensation factor to adjust the computed temperature value 414, thereby generating a compensated computed temperature. The flow volume computing engine 408 can apply the compensated computed temperature to compute the fluid flow volume. The compensated computed temperature can be applied instead of measured temperature values 412. In the flow measurement system 100 modalities thus applying the compensated computed temperature, temperature sensor 138 can be omitted. The temperature compensation engine can establish the compensation factor based on the temperature measurements provided by a temperature sensor coupled to the flow measurement system 100 for the purpose of determining the compensation factor. For example, a temperature transducer calibrated by an accredited laboratory can be temporarily introduced into system 100 via a thermal test well. After sufficient temperature measurements have been taken to establish the compensation factor, the temperature sensor can be removed from system 100.
    [0041] The temperature derivation motor 402, temperature compensation motor 404, temperature verification motor 406 and flow computation motor 408 include hardware and software resources (ie instructions) to perform the functions described on here. For example, some modalities of the temperature bypass motor 402, temperature compensation motor 404, temperature verification motor 406 and flow computing motor 408 can be implemented as one or more processors executing instructions retrieved from a readable storage medium per computer. Processors suitable for implementing 402-408 engines may include general purpose microprocessors, digital signal processors, microcontrollers or other devices capable of executing instructions retrieved from a computer-readable storage medium. Processor architectures generally include execution units (eg, fixed point, floating point, integer, etc.), storage (eg, registers, memory, etc.), instruction decoding, peripherals (eg, switch controllers, regulators, direct memory access controllers, etc.), input / output systems (for example, serial ports, parallel ports, etc.), and various other components and subsystems. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium suitable for storing instructions for 402-408 engines may include volatile storage, such as random access memory, non-volatile storage (for example, a hard disk drive, an optical storage device (for example, CD or DVD), FLASH storage, read-only memory), or combinations thereof.
    [0042] Figure 7 shows a block diagram of a processor-based modality of flow processor 128. The flow processor 128 modality of Figure 7 includes a processor 700 and storage 710 coupled to processor 700. Processor 700 is a instruction execution device, as described above. Storage 710 is a computer-readable medium, as described above. Processor 700 retrieves and executes instructions stored in storage 710, reads data from storage 710, and writes data to storage 710. The storage includes a temperature bypass motor 702, a temperature compensation motor 704, a temperature verification motor 706 and a flow volume computing engine 708, each of which includes instructions for implementing the respective engines 402, 404, 406 and 408. Storage 712 may also include historical temperature data 712 (e.g., measured temperature values and / or historical computations) usable, for example, to compute a historical difference between measured and computed temperatures.
    [0043] Figure 8 shows a flow chart for a method 800 to verify temperature measurement in an ultrasonic flow measurement system, according to several modalities. Although represented sequentially as a matter of convenience, at least some of the actions shown can be performed in a different order and / or performed in parallel. Additionally, some modalities can perform only some of the actions shown. In some embodiments, at least some of the operations in Figure 7, as well as other operations described here, can be implemented as instructions stored in computer-readable medium 710 and executed by processor 700.
    [0044] In block 802, fluid is flowing through the central passage 104 of the ultrasonic flowmeter 101 and beyond sensors 134-136. The temperature sensor 138 measures the temperature of the fluid flowing into the temperature sensor 138. The measured value of the fluid temperature, provided by the temperature sensor 138, is indicative of the temperature of the fluid flowing into the elevation at which the temperature sensor 508 is disposed inside the tube 132.
    [0045] In block 804, the ultrasonic flowmeter 101 generates ultrasonic signals that are exchanged between the transducers of each pair of transducers (for example, 112, 114). The meter 101 measures the transit times of the ultrasonic signal between the transducers and computes the speed of the sound value for each pair of transducers (i.e., for each chord path), as shown in equation (2).
    [0046] In block 806, flow processor 128 calculates a computed temperature value of the fluid stream. The computed temperature value is based on the measured speed of the sound pressure and fluid pressure values and composition measurements provided by sensors 134, 136. The flow processor 128 can calculate the computed temperature iteratively based on an inversion of the AGA 10 speed of the sound computations.
    [0047] In block 808, if a historical difference between measured and computed temperature has not been established, then, in block 810, the flow processor computes the historical difference, as long as sufficient difference data has been accumulated. The flow processor 128 can be based on the historical difference of different values acquired over time. For example, the historical difference can be an average of difference values acquired over time, or it can be an instant difference if the difference between the measured and computed temperatures is constant over time. In some embodiments, a historical difference value can be determined for each sub-range of a temperature range over which the flow measurement system 100 is operating.
    [0048] If, in block 808, the historical difference has been established, then, in block 812, the flow processor applies the historical difference to compensate for one of the computed temperature, the measured temperature and a temperature check range. Compensation may involve moving or diverting the parameter and being compensated for by the historical value. For example, the historical value can be added to a temperature value or serve as the center of the verification range.
    [0049] In block 814, flow processor 128 determines whether the difference in the measured and compensated temperature values is within the limits of the temperature verification range. For example, if the temperature check range is referenced to the measured temperature, then the flow processor can determine whether the compensated computed temperature is within the limits of the check range. Similarly, if the temperature check range is referenced to the computed temperature, then the flow processor can determine whether the measured and compensated temperatures are within the limits of the check range. Alternatively, if the temperature check range is referenced to the historical difference value, then the flow processor can determine whether the difference in the measured temperature and the computed temperature is within the limits of the check range. The limits of the temperature verification range can be according to a temperature uncertainty limit, specified by a national, international or industrial standard.
    [0050] If, in block 816, the measured and computed temperature difference is within the temperature verification range, then the process continues with measurement of the fluid current temperature in block 802. On the other hand, if the difference does not is within the temperature verification range, then flow processor 128 issues a temperature alert in block 818. The temperature alert can be a visual indicator, an audible indicator, a message, etc. that alerts the operator of the ultrasonic flow measurement system 100 to a potential temperature measurement error.
    [0051] Thus, the modalities of the systems and methods described here provide verification of temperature measurement instruments in an ultrasonic flow measurement system, without additional instruments and / or system shutdown for testing.
    [0052] The above discussion is intended to be illustrative of the principles and various exemplary modalities of the present invention. Numerous variations and modifications will become evident to those skilled in the art, once the above description is fully appreciated. The following claims are intended to be interpreted to cover all variations and modifications.
    权利要求:
    Claims (22)
    [0001]
    1. Ultrasonic flow measurement system, comprising: a passage (104) for fluid flow; a temperature sensor (138) arranged to provide a measured temperature of a fluid flowing in the passage; an ultrasonic flowmeter (101) configured to measure the transit time of an ultrasonic signal through the fluid flowing in the passage (104); and a flow processor (128) configured to: compute a speed of sound through the fluid based on transit time; calculate a computed fluid temperature based on the computed speed of sound; and applying compensation, based on a historical difference between the computed temperature and the measured temperature, to a temperature verification parameter; characterized by the fact that the flow processor (128) is further configured to determine, based on the temperature verification parameter, whether a current difference between the measured temperature and the computed temperature is within a predetermined range; wherein the temperature verification parameter comprises at least one of the measured temperature, the computed temperature, the predetermined range and the current difference between the measured temperature and the computed temperature.
    [0002]
    2. Ultrasonic flow measurement system, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the temperature verification parameter is one of the computed temperature and the measured temperature, and in which the flow processor (128) is further configured to: compute the temperature verification parameter by shifting, based on the historical difference, one of the computed temperature and the measured temperature; and computing the current difference as a difference between the temperature check parameter and the computed temperature and measured non-compensated temperature parameter.
    [0003]
    3. Ultrasonic flow measurement system, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the temperature verification parameter is one of the predetermined range and a difference between the computed temperature and the measured temperature, and in which the processor flow (128) is further configured to compute the temperature verification parameter by shifting, based on the historical difference, one of the predetermined range and the difference between the computed temperature and the measured temperature; and compute the current difference as a difference between the temperature verification parameter and the historical difference.
    [0004]
    4. Ultrasonic flow measurement system, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the flow processor (128) is further configured to compute the historical difference as a unique value for a system installation location.
    [0005]
    5. Ultrasonic flow measurement system according to claim 1, characterized in that the flow processor (128) is further configured to compute the historical difference as an average difference between the computed temperature and the temperature measured over time .
    [0006]
    6. Ultrasonic flow measurement system according to claim 1, characterized in that the flow processor (128) is further configured to compute the historical difference as an instantaneous difference between the computed temperature and the measured temperature.
    [0007]
    7. Ultrasonic flow measurement system according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the flow processor (128) is further configured to compute the historical difference as a plurality of difference values, each difference value corresponding to a difference between the computed temperature and the temperature measured within a given temperature range.
    [0008]
    8. Ultrasonic flow measurement system according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the flow processor (128) is further configured to issue an alert based on the current difference not being within the predetermined range.
    [0009]
    9. Ultrasonic flow measurement system according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the flow processor (128) is further configured to: compute a compensated fluid temperature, which displaces the computed temperature based on the historical difference; and determining the volume of the fluid flowing through the passage, based on the compensated temperature.
    [0010]
    10. Ultrasonic flow measurement system, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the flow processor (128) comprises: a temperature derivation motor (402), configured to calculate the computed temperature of a current of fluid, based on the measured speed of sound through the fluid stream; a temperature verification motor (406), configured to determine whether the current difference in the computed temperature and a measured temperature of the fluid stream is within the predetermined range; and a temperature compensation motor (404), configured to: determine a compensation vector based on a historical difference between the computed temperature and the measured temperature; and applying the compensation value to at least one of the measured temperature, the computed temperature, the predetermined range and the current difference, for use by the temperature verification engine.
    [0011]
    11. Ultrasonic flow measurement system, according to claim 10, characterized by the fact that: the temperature compensation motor (404) is further configured to compute a compensated temperature of the fluid stream that diverts one from the computed temperature and the measured temperature, according to the historical difference; and wherein the temperature verification motor (406) is further configured to: compute the current difference as a difference in the compensated temperature and as one of the measured temperature and the computed temperature not compensated; and generate an alert based on the current difference not being within the predetermined verification range.
    [0012]
    12. Ultrasonic flow measurement system, according to claim 10, characterized by the fact that: the temperature compensation motor (404) is further configured to compensate the predetermined range by deviating the predetermined range based on the historical difference to create a predetermined compensation range; and where the temperature verification engine is configured to: compute the current difference as a difference between the computed temperature and the measured temperature; and generate an alert based on the current difference not being within the predetermined verification range.
    [0013]
    13. Ultrasonic flow measurement system according to claim 10, characterized by the fact that the temperature compensation motor (404) is further configured to compute the historical difference as at least one of an average difference between the computed temperature and the temperature measured over time; an instant difference between the computed temperature and the measured temperature; and a plurality of difference values, each difference value corresponding to a difference between the computed temperature and the temperature measured within a given temperature range.
    [0014]
    14. Ultrasonic flow measurement system according to claim 10, characterized by the fact that the temperature compensation motor (404) is further configured to compute a compensated temperature from the fluid stream, which deviates from the computed temperature according to historical difference; and wherein the flow processor (128) further comprises a flow volume computing engine, configured to determine a volume of the fluid stream, based on the compensated temperature.
    [0015]
    15. Ultrasonic flow measurement system according to claim 10, characterized by the fact that the temperature verification motor (406) is further configured to generate an alert based on the current difference not being within the predetermined range.
    [0016]
    16. Ultrasonic flow measurement system, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the flow processor (128) is configured to: apply the compensation to generate a compensated computed temperature; and determining a flow volume through the passage, based on the compensated computed temperature.
    [0017]
    17. Method for temperature compensation in ultrasonic measurement, comprising the steps of: measuring (802) the measured temperature of a stream of fluid flowing through an ultrasonic flowmeter (101); measuring (804) the transit times of the ultrasonic signals through the fluid stream; calculate (806) the computed temperature of the fluid stream, based on transit times; characterized by the fact that it further comprises: determining (814) whether a given difference between the measured temperature and the computed temperature is within a predetermined range; and compensating (812), before determining at least one of the measured temperature, the computed temperature, the predetermined range and the given difference, based on a historical difference between the computed temperature and the measured temperature.
    [0018]
    18. Method according to claim 17, characterized by the fact that determining comprises: computing a temperature compensated for the fluid stream that displaces one of the computed temperature and the measured temperature, based on the historical difference; determining the given difference to be a difference of the compensated temperature and one of the computed temperature and the measured temperature not compensated; and generate an alert based on the given difference not being within the predetermined range.
    [0019]
    19. Method according to claim 17, characterized in that determining comprises: offsetting the predetermined range by shifting the predetermined range based on historical difference to create a compensated predetermined range; determining the given difference to a difference between the computed temperature and the measured temperature; and generate an alert based on the given difference not being within the compensated predetermined range.
    [0020]
    20. Method according to claim 17, characterized in that it additionally comprises computing the historical difference as at least one of: an average difference between the computed temperature and the temperature measured over time; an instant difference between the computed temperature and the measured temperature; and a plurality of difference values, each difference value corresponding to a difference between the computed temperature and the temperature measured within a given temperature range.
    [0021]
    21. Method according to claim 17, characterized in that it additionally comprises: computing a temperature compensated for the fluid stream, which displaces the computed temperature based on the historical difference; and determining the volume of the fluid stream based on the compensated temperature.
    [0022]
    22. Method according to claim 17, characterized by the fact that it additionally comprises computing the historical difference based on the values of the measured temperature and the computed temperature, acquired at an installation site of an ultrasonic measurement system measuring the fluid current .
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    IN2015DN02192A|2015-08-21|
    CA2884069C|2017-07-25|
    US20160091354A9|2016-03-31|
    EP2893304B1|2019-01-09|
    US20150000420A1|2015-01-01|
    EP2893304A1|2015-07-15|
    US9310237B2|2016-04-12|
    CN104136891B|2017-09-15|
    MX341772B|2016-09-02|
    CA2884069A1|2014-03-13|
    WO2014039873A1|2014-03-13|
    CN104136891A|2014-11-05|
    EP2893304A4|2016-05-25|
    RU2601207C1|2016-10-27|
    MX2015002818A|2015-10-09|
    BR112015005052A2|2017-07-04|
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    法律状态:
    2018-11-21| B06F| Objections, documents and/or translations needed after an examination request according [chapter 6.6 patent gazette]|
    2020-01-28| B06U| Preliminary requirement: requests with searches performed by other patent offices: procedure suspended [chapter 6.21 patent gazette]|
    2020-05-26| B09A| Decision: intention to grant [chapter 9.1 patent gazette]|
    2020-10-20| B16A| Patent or certificate of addition of invention granted [chapter 16.1 patent gazette]|Free format text: PRAZO DE VALIDADE: 20 (VINTE) ANOS CONTADOS A PARTIR DE 06/09/2013, OBSERVADAS AS CONDICOES LEGAIS. |
    优先权:
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    US201261697922P| true| 2012-09-07|2012-09-07|
    US61/697,922|2012-09-07|
    US13/928,635|US9310237B2|2012-09-07|2013-06-27|Ultrasonic flow metering using compensated computed temperature|
    US13/928,635|2013-06-27|
    PCT/US2013/058585|WO2014039873A1|2012-09-07|2013-09-06|Ultrasonic flow metering using compensated computed temperature|
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