The measuring system is placed in the course of a process line and is used to detect at least one measurement variable of a medium flowing in the process line. The system comprises a measuring sensor for this purpose with a measuring tube that conducts the medium to be measured and a sensor assembly which has at least one sensor element that reacts primarily to the measurement variable to be detected and which supplies at least one measurement signal that is influenced by the measurement variable by means of the sensor element or elements. In addition, the measuring system comprises measuring electronics that communicate with the measuring sensor and that use the measurement signal(s) to generate, at least intermittently, at least one measured value that represents the current measurement variable. The measuring tube of said measuring system has a smaller flow cross-section than a supply segment of the process line that is connected to the inlet side of the measuring system. The measuring system therefore also has a flow conditioner that is situated on the inlet side of the measuring tube, extends between said tube and the supply segment of the process line and has a lumen which tapers towards the measuring tube and through which the medium flows during operation. The flow conditioner has at least one inner edge which is situated upstream of the outlet end of said conditioner, projects into the lumen of the latter and against which the medium in the conditioner flows.

Measuring system for a medium flowing in a process line

Apparatus and associated systems and methods relate to automated learning of a baseline differential pressure (dP) characteristic to monitor the performance of a field-installed gas flow meter by comparing on-line dP measurements to the learned baseline dP characteristic. In an exemplary embodiment, a first baseline dP characteristic may be learned in a first mode over a first predetermined period of time according to a first set of learning criteria, and a second baseline dP characteristic may be learned in a second mode over a second predetermined period of time according to a second set of learning criteria. The first period of time may be substantially shorter than the second period of time. The first set of criteria may be substantially more relaxed than the second set of criteria. During the second mode, meter performance degradation may be diagnosed by comparing measured dP against the first baseline dP characteristic.

Flow meter diagnostic processing

This invention encompasses embodiments for multi-modal integrated simultaneous measurement of various aspects of fluids contained in circulating systems such as automotive reciprocating engines and vehicle transmissions. These circulating systems perform constant internal lubrication, and heat and contaminant removal to protect the internal moving parts from the inherent friction and damage in normal operation. Most commonly this is achieved with fluids based on hydrocarbon and/or related synthetics, which, over time, can lose their protective properties, and vary in their performance or breakdown/decay due to internal and external events. Several components within the lubricant fluid can be measured and can provide insight into the efficacy of the system to perform its designed mission. Described herein is a real-time, simultaneous, integrated, multi-modal sensor system for early warning notification that can be further enhanced using specifically designed nanoparticles that can be introduced into the system, engineered to specifically bind with the contaminants and/or undergo an irreversible state change upon certain experienced conditions to both increase the detectability as well as provide for a framework to improve filter performance.

Multi-modal fluid condition sensor platform and system therefor

A device comprises a sensor tube for placement in a process flow and a flow-modifying element. The flow-modifying element is formed on the sensor tube, in order to reduce flow-induced vibrations by reducing coherent vortex shedding in the process flow.

Sensor tube with reduced coherent vortex shedding

Flow sensor assemblies having increased flow range capabilities are disclosed. In one illustrative embodiment, a flow sensor assembly includes a housing with an inlet flow port, an outlet flow port, a fluid channel extending between the inlet flow port and the outlet flow port, and a bypass channel having a pair of taps fluidly connected to the fluid channel at separate locations. A flow sensor for sensing a measure related to a flow rate of a fluid flowing through the fluid channel can positioned in the bypass channel. A pressure differential between the two taps of the bypass channel can drive a fraction of a fluid flowing through the fluid channel through the bypass channel. The flow sensor assembly may be configured to achieve, control, and/or balance a desired fraction of fluid flow through the bypass channel and past the flow sensor.

Flow sensor assembly with integral bypass channel

A system (30) to measure fluid flow characteristics in a pipeline, meter, and methods includes a pipeline (3 1) having a passageway (3 7) to transport flowing fluid (4 1) therethrough, a process density meter (33) including at least portions thereof positioned within the pipeline (3 1) to provide flowing fluid characteristics including volumetric flow rate, fluid density, and mass flow rate of the flowing fluid (41), and a fluid characteristic display (35) to display the fluid characteristics. A process density meter (33) includes a vortex-shedding body (63) positioned within the pipeline (3 1) to form vortices and a vortex meter (65) having a vortex frequency sensor (103) to measure the frequency of the vortices and to determine the volumetric flow rate. The process density meter (33) further includes a differential pressure meter (84) positioned adjacent the vortex-shedding body (63) to produce a differential pressure meter flow rate signal indicative of the density of fluid (40) when flowing through the pipeline (3 1). The process density meter (89) also includes a thermal flow meter (43) positioned adjacent the vortex-shedding body (63) to produce a mass flow rate signal indicative of the mass flow rate of fluid (41) when flowing through the pipeline (3 1). The process density meter (89) produces an output of a volumetric flow rate, a flowing fluid density, and a mass flow rate to be displayed by the fluid characteristic display (35).

System to measure density, specific gravity, and flow rate of fluids, meter, and related methods

Program product to measure fluid flow characteristics in a pipeline is provided. A vortex-shedding body is positioned within the pipeline to form vortices. A vortex meter can include a vortex frequency sensor to measure the frequency of the vortices to determine the volumetric flow rate. A differential pressure meter positioned adjacent the vortex-shedding body can produce a differential pressure meter flow rate signal indicative of the density of fluid when flowing through the pipeline. A thermal flow meter positioned adjacent the vortex-shedding body can produce a mass flow rate signal indicative of the mass flow rate of fluid when flowing through the pipeline. The program product can include instructions for a fluid characteristic determiner to perform the operations of processing measured and sensed signals to produce an output of a volumetric flow rate, a flowing fluid density, and a mass flow rate to be displayed on a fluid characteristic display.

James L. Sprague

Papers

System to measure density, specific gravity, and flow rate of fluids, meter, and related methods

Program product to measure density, specific gravity, and flow rate of fluids