US 7,591,191 B2
Multiphase flow meter for high gas volume fraction systems
Geoffrey Frederick Hewitt, Wallingford (United Kingdom); and Gioia Falcone, South Hampstead (United Kingdom)
Assigned to Imperial College Innovations, Ltd., London (United Kingdom)
Appl. No. 10/558,612
PCT Filed May 28, 2004, PCT No. PCT/GB2004/002314
§ 371(c)(1), (2), (4) Date Oct. 06, 2006,
PCT Pub. No. WO2004/106861, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 09, 2004.
Claims priority of application No. 0312194.4 (GB), filed on May 28, 2003.
Prior Publication US 2007/0095136 A1, May 03, 2007
Int. Cl. G01F 1/74 (2006.01); G01F 15/08 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 73—861.04  [73/200] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A flow meter system, for measuring one or more fluid flow rates in a gas and liquid multiphase system, comprising:
means for in-line separation of a multiphase flow into at least a gas flow and a liquid flow in a first separation region in a pipe;
means for measuring said liquid and said gas flows in a second measurement region immediately following said first separation region;
means for recombining said liquid and said gas flows into a substantially homogeneous mixture;
means for taking further measurements on said substantially homogenous mixture following said means for recombining, whereby said flow meter system enables a flow rate measurement over a range of gas volume fractions, particularly higher gas volume fractions with improved accuracy;
said means for in-line separation, further comprises:
means for separating said multiphase flow into a core of gas and a film of liquid on an internal wall of said pipe; and
said means for measuring said liquid and said gas flows further comprises:
means for measuring a set of properties of said liquid flow and for enabling a calculation of a total liquid max flux there from.