Showing papers on "Thermal mass flow meter published in 2010"

Mass flow meter, mass flow controller, mass flow meter system and mass flow control system containing the mass flow meter and the mass flow controller

Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide a superior mass flow meter or the like that can flexibly cope with a change of a sample fluid such as a gas kind without requiring a special troublesome labor and that can measure a flow rate with high accuracy. The mass flow meter comprises a sensor section that detects a flow rate of a sample fluid flowing in a flow channel, a setting section that sets a flow rate characteristic function that is intrinsic to each fluid to determine a flow rate based on a flow rate detected value output by the sensor section and an instrumental error correction parameter that is independent from the flow rate characteristic function and common to multiple sample fluids to correct an instrumental error of each mass flow meter, and a flow rate calculating section that calculates a flow rate measurement value of the sample fluid by applying the flow rate characteristic function and the instrumental error correction parameter to the flow rate detected value.

Method and apparatus for gas flow control

Abstract: A method and apparatus for self-calibrating control of gas flow. The gas flow rate is initially set by controlling, to a high degree of precision, the amount of opening of a flow restriction, where the design of the apparatus containing the flow restriction lends itself to achieving high precision. The gas flow rate is then measured by a pressure rate-of-drop upstream of the flow restriction, and the amount of flow restriction opening is adjusted, if need be, to obtain exactly the desired flow.

Mass flow controller with enhanced operating range

Abstract: A mass flow controller among other embodiments and method is described. The mass flow controller including a thermal mass flow sensor including at least two sensing elements coupled to a sensor tube of the mass flow controller, the thermal mass flow sensor being designed to provide a first signal indicative of flow of a gas within a first flow-rate-range and a second signal indicative of flow of the gas within a second flow-rate-range; and a control portion figured to control a valve position of the mass flow controller responsive to the first signal when the flow of the gas is within the first flow-rate-range and control the valve position of the mass flow controller responsive to the second signal when the flow of the gas is within a second flow-rate-range.

Mass flow measurement of gas?liquid bubble flow with the combined use of a Venturi tube and a vortex flowmeter

Abstract: Development of effective techniques for gas–liquid two-phase flow measurement is of interest to both academic research and industrial applications. This paper presents a novel approach to the measurement of the mass flow rate of homogeneous gas–liquid bubble flow with the combined use of a Venturi tube and a vortex flowmeter. The Venturi tube and the vortex flowmeter were mounted in the same pipeline with a spacing interval of ten times the pipe's inner diameter. A measurement correlation was established based on the differential pressure generated across the Venturi tube and the frequency extracted from the vortex flowmeter signal. Experiments were conducted on a vertical upward gas–liquid two-phase flow rig under the bubble flow pattern, with the air mass flow rate from 0.2 × 10−3 to 3.2 × 10−3 kg s−1, the water mass flow rate from 3.3 to 5.2 kg s−1 and the volumetric void fraction from 0.004 to 0.246. The results show that the relative errors of the correlation for the mixture mass flow rate measurement were within ±5%, and the maximum standard deviation of the relative errors was 2.0%. This method provides a simple and practical solution to the mass flow measurement of homogeneous gas–liquid bubble flows.

Hot water heater with an integrated flow meter

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed that monitors water of a water heating and storage system. At least one flow meter is integrated within the system having a tank for storing water to be heated. The meter is in communication with other devices in a home network and a controller of the network with a communication module. The flow meter is connected to the cold water inlet pipe and/or the hot water outlet pipe of the system. Data is presented to the user to enable more informed use of water and of water consumption habits.

Method of measuring multi-phase fluid flow downhole

Abstract: Multi-phase flow is estimated in a flow meter by measuring fluid pressure within the flow meter and using the measured pressure to calculate a density of the flow. A total flow rate through the flow meter is estimated based on the calculated density and a PVT analysis of the fluid. A corrected total mass flow rate is calculated using a liquid/gas slip correction technique. Fluid flow rates are further corrected with a discharge coefficient that varies with changes in the Reynolds number of the fluid. The gas and oil fractions can be determined from the corrected total mass flow rate and gas fraction.

Modification to mass flow rate correlation in oil–water two-phase flow by a V-cone flow meter in consideration of the oil–water viscosity ratio

Abstract: Oil–water two-phase flow widely exists and its measurement is of significance in oil well logging, oil transportations, etc. One of the techniques in common use in oil–water two-phase flow rate measurement is the differential pressure (DP) meters combining a theoretical model connecting the mass flow rate of the mixture with the differential pressures generated by the throttling element installed inside the pipeline. Though a number of publications focus on DP meters in measuring gas–water two-phase flows or wet gas, the existing models are still not very compatible in oil–water two-phase flow. In this work, a series of oil–water two-phase flow experiments were conducted in a horizontal pipe of 50 mm diameter and the flow rate was measured by a V-cone meter with a diameter ratio of 0.65. Available correlations of DP meters developed from gas–water flow are studied and compared with the measured data from the V-cone meter. A modified correlation is proposed based on the influence of viscosity of oil upon the differential pressure model and three-dimensional computerized fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations. The results have shown that the proposed method achieves better accuracy in oil–water two-phase flow rate measurement than other DP correlations, and it can be extended to other oil–water flow conditions by adjusting the tuning factor.

Fluid flow conditioner

Abstract: A device and method for conditioning media flowing within a conduit enabling sensors placed within short straight run distances to measure media flow with improved accuracy employing a thermal flow instalment. A flow conditioner downstream of a media flow measuring transducer has walls that diverge in the flow direction to optimize readings of the media flow from the transducer.

High accuracy battery-operated mems mass flow meter

Abstract: With increasing demands on data communication and remote control in current industrial processes or gas measurement applications, development of new technologies would be necessary. The current invention presents a MEMS mass flow meter that are cost compatible with conventional variable area flow meters while providing all digital data process including accumulated flow rate measurements, user programmable flow rate alarm and flow data storage. These in-line meters provide packages in pipe diameter from 4 mm up to 100 mm. It is powered with battery and can be used as a stand-alone hand-held option. The meter is also equipped with the industrial standard RS485 Modbus communication interface for easy network and remote management.

Upstream volume mass flow verification systems and methods

Abstract: This disclosure relates to mass flow verification systems for and methods of measuring and verifying the mass flow through a mass flow delivery / measurement device such as a mass flow controller. A mass flow verification system comprises a preset volume, a temperature sensor, and a pressure sensor. The measured verified flow determined by the mass flow verification system can be adjusted to compensate for errors resulting from a dead volume within the mass flow measurement device.

Multiphase flow rate measurement using a novel conductance Venturi meter : experimental and theoretical study in different flow regimes

Abstract: Multiphase flows, where two or even three fluids flow simultaneously in a pipe are becoming increasingly important in industry. Although much research has been done to measure the phase flow rates of two-phase flows using a Venturi meter, accurate flow rate measurements of two phase flows in vertical and horizontal pipes at different flow regimes using a Venturi meter remain elusive. In water continuous multiphase flow, the electrical conductance technique has proven attractive for many industrial applications. In gas-water two phase flows, the electrical conductance technique can be used to measure the gas volume fraction. The electrical conductance is typically measured by passing a known electrical current through the flow and then measure the voltage drop between two electrodes in the pipe. Once the current and the voltage drop are obtained, the conductance (or resistance) of the mixture, which depends on the gas volume fraction in the water, can then be calculated. The principal aim of the research described in this thesis was to develop a novel conductance multiphase flow meter which is capable of measuring the gas and the water flow rates in vertical annular flows and horizontal stratified gas water two phase flows. This thesis investigates the homogenous and separated (vertical annular and horizontal stratified) gas-water two phase flows through Venturi meters. In bubbly(approximately homogenous) two phase flow, the universal Venturi meter (nonconductance Venturi) was used in conjunction with the Flow Density Meter, FDM (which is capable of measuring the gas volume fraction at the inlet of the Venturi) to measure the mixture flow rate using the homogenous flow model. Since the separated flow in a Venturi meter is highly complex and the application of the homogenous flow model could not be expected to lead to highly accurate results, a novel conductance multiphase flow meter, which consists of the Conductance Inlet Void Fraction Meter, CIVFM (that is capable of measuring the gas volume fraction at the inlet of the Venturi) and the Conductance Multiphase Venturi Meter, CMVM (that is capable of measuring the gas volume fraction at the throat of the Venturi) was designed and manufactured allowing the new separated flow model to be used to determine the gas and the water flow rates. A new model for separated flows has been investigated. This model was used to calculate the phase flow rates of water and gas flows in a horizontal stratified flow. This model was also modified to be used in a vertical annular flow. The new separated flow model is based on the measurement of the gas volume fraction at the inlet and the throat of the Venturi meter rather than relying on prior knowledge of the mass flow quality x. Online measurement of x is difficult and not practical in nearly all multiphase flow applications. The advantage of the new model described in this thesis over the previous models available in the literature is that the new model does not require prior knowledge of the mass flow quality which makes the measurement technique described in this thesis more practical.

Method and mass flow controller for enhanced operating range

Abstract: A mass flow controller (MFC), a method for calibrating an MFC, and a method for operating an MFC are disclosed. The method for calibrating the MFC includes obtaining data relative to two signals from a thermal mass flow sensor when operating the mass flow controller at different flow rates with a calibration gas, and storing the data relating to the two signals in connection with corresponding flow-rate values. The method for operating the MFC includes obtaining data relative to the two signals from the thermal mass flow controller and accessing the calibration data to determine an unknown flow rate for a process gas that may be the same gas as the calibration gas or may be another gas that is different from the calibration gas.

Device for detecting a blockage of a mechanical fluid meter, and meter featuring blockage detection

Abstract: The invention relates to a mechanical fluid meter, for liquid or gas, comprising an electronic device (E) that has means for metering, and generally also displaying, consumption, said fluid meter including: at least one fluid temperature sensor (3) near the meter and at least one ambient temperature sensor (4) where the meter is installed; a connection means between the temperature sensors (3, 4) and the electronic device (E); and analysis means (5) for establishing the temperature difference (Δθ) between the fluid temperature and the ambient temperature and for taking into account the fluid flow rate value supplied by the meter, said analysis means being programmed so as to display and/or transmit information indicating a meter blockage when the temperature difference (Δθ) is higher than a predetermined limit and the flow rate value supplied by the meter is zero.

Thermal anemometer flow meter for the measurement of wet gas flow

Abstract: A flow body flow meter includes a flow body and a sensor having one or more probes in the flow body. As a wet gas stream enters the flow body, an internal passage imparts angular momentum to the stream to induce a rotating flow. The wet gas stream at least intermittently carries liquid phase particles and the inertia of the denser liquid phase particles separates them from the rotating flow. The probes of the sensor are located in a part of the rotating flow that is free of any liquid phase particles. The internal passage may include an axial swirler and a cylindrical section downstream from the axial swirler. The axial swirler imparts the nonlinear motion to the stream, and tips of the probes are located near a center axis of the cylindrical section so they are free of any liquid phase particles.

Thermal stress compensation in a curved tube vibrating flow meter

Abstract: A curved tube vibrating flow meter ( 5 ) includes a flow tube temperature sensor T T ( 190 ) and a plurality of case temperature sensors T C ( 303 ) affixed to one or more case locations of a case ( 300 ) of the curved tube vibrating flow meter ( 5 ). The plurality of case temperature sensors T C ( 303 ) generate a case temperature signal, wherein a plurality of case temperature sensor resistances at the one or more case locations form a combined case resistance related to thermal importances of the one or more case locations. Meter electronics ( 20 ) receives the flow tube temperature signal, receives the case temperature signal, and compensates the curved tube vibrating flow meter ( 5 ) for thermal stress using the flow tube temperature signal and the case temperature signal.

Method of dynamically correcting flow rate measurements

Abstract: A flow rate of a fluid flowing in a tubing is determined using a flow meter. The flow meter measures a value related to the flow rate. The tubing has a valve for controlling the fluid flowing through the flow meter. The method of determination of the flow rate includes closing the valve and measuring a first zero flow rate value at a first time and a second zero flow rate value at a second time, estimating an error of the value measurement based on the first and second zero flow rate values, opening the valve and measuring value of the flowing fluid, applying an error correction to the measured value of the flowing fluid, and calculating a corrected flow rate based on the corrected value of flowing fluid.

Apparatus and method for controlling constant mass flow to gas chromatography column

Abstract: A device for providing a constant mass flow rate to a downstream column system of a gas chromatograph includes a small full scale mass flow controller that controls carrier gas to flow at a first mass flow rate and a flow resistance element, including an inlet port connected to a sample inlet, an outlet port connected to the downstream column system, and a pressure sensing port in fluid communication with the outlet port and the mass flow controller. A sample inlet pressure controller controls the sample inlet at a first pressure, and a pressure sensor measures a second pressure of the carrier gas at the pressure sensing port. A set point of the first pressure is determined as a function of the second pressure, flow resistance of the flow resistance element, and a second mass flow rate from the inlet port to the outlet port of the flow resistance element.

Numerical methodology for orifice meter calibration

Abstract: Orifice Meters are mechanical devices used to measure gases and liquids flows. Due to manufacturing, installation and operation simplicity, the orifice meters are widely used in the industrial processes in which there is flow of gases or liquids. Moreover, their acquisition and operation costs are smaller than the ones verified for other flow meters (Venturi, flowmeter). However, before the utilization of any calibration orifice meters, they demand an experimental calibration procedure. Thus, in order to suppress this laborious experimental procedure, this work objectified to apply computational fluid dynamics techniques (CFD) to numerically predict the Calibration Coefficient of the orifice meter. The adopted numerical methodology was able to satisfactorily predict the discharge coefficients, presenting an economic alternative when compared to traditional experimental approaches.

Lithographic apparatus and a method of measuring flow rate in a two phase flow

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus is disclosed that includes a conduit for two phase flow therethrough. A flow separator is provided to separate the two phase flow into a gas flow and a liquid flow. A flow meter measures the flow rate of fluid in the gas flow or the liquid flow.

Thermal signal behaviour for air flow measurements as fundamentals to Time-of-Flight

Abstract: Thermal flow measurement is currently based on the principle of heat energy displacement caused by a flowing fluid (mass flow measurement). The heat is induced by a continuous heating element immersed into the fluid. This kind of sensor is only applicable for fluids with known homogeneity properties [3].

Phase flow rate measurements of annular flows

Abstract: In the international oil and gas industry multiphase annular flow in pipelines and wells is extremely important, but not well understood. This thesis reports the development of an efficient and cheap method for measuring the phase flow rates in two phase annular and annular mist flow, in which the liquid phase is electrically conducting, using ultrasonic and conductance techniques. The method measures changes in the conductance of the liquid film formed during annular flow and uses these to calculate the volumetric and mass flow rates of the liquid film. The gas velocity in the core of the annular flow is measured using an ultrasonic technique. Combined with an entrainment model and the liquid film measurements described above, the ultrasonic technique enables the volumetric flow rate of the gas in the core and the volumetric and mass flow rates of entrained liquid droplets to be measured. This study was based on experimental work and the use of modelling techniques. The practical investigation comprised a series of experiments conducted on a purpose built flow loop in which the test section was a Perspex pipe of 50mm ID. The experimental work was limited to two-phase air-water flow. The flow loop was specifically designed to accommodate the different instruments and subsystems designed in this investigation including bespoke flow meters and a film extraction system. Most flow loop controls were automated using a MATLAB program. Reference measurement of the total water flow rate was made using a calibrated turbine flow meter and of the air flow rate using a calibrated rotameter. For the combined ultrasonic/conductance method investigated in this thesis, the velocity of the gas in the core was found using a novel Ultrasonic Flow Meter (USFM). The positioning and arrangement of the transducers have never been used previously. The flow velocity of the liquid film and the thickness of the film were measured using a novel Conductance Flow Meter (CFM). The CFM measured the liquid film thickness using novel wall conductance probes. By cross correlating the signals from a pair of such probes the film velocity was obtained. Good agreement of the experimental results obtained from the CFM and USFM with results published in the literature was found. Although not investigated experimentally in the work described in this thesis, annular flows encountered in the oil industry may contain a liquid phase comprising a mixture of oil and water. For such flows, the volume fractions of the oil and water can be measured using an automated bypass system developed during this project. The bypass system periodically extracts part of the liquid film, measures its density and then releases the sample back into the pipeline. The liquid phase volume fractions are determined from this density measurement which can be performed more than once per minute. An entrainment model was developed, which is required by the ultrasonic/conductance flow metering technique described in this thesis, in which the mass fraction of the liquid flowing as entrained droplets in the core can be determined from the liquid film thickness and velocity measurements. A mathematical model was also developed to describe the properties of the liquid film, such as liquid velocity profile within the film, and the model’s results were found to agree with the experimental results obtained during the project and also with previous work cited in the literature. The complexity of this latter model was reduced by making a number of simplifying assumptions, which are presented and discussed in the thesis, including the assumption that in annular flow there is a dynamic balance liquid entrainment and droplets being deposited back onto the film. The combination of the designed CFM and USFM with the bypass tube and the entrainment model offer the opportunity for a ‘wet gas’ flow meter to be developed to measure two and three phase annular flows at relatively low cost and with enhanced accuracy. Such a device would have the advantage that it would by substantially smaller than systems using separators and it could even be retrofitted onto off-shore platforms. The integration of the subsystems developed in this project into a single system capable of giving on-line measurements of annular flow would be a major benefit to the author’s sponsor, Petroleum Development of Oman.

A Fundamental Study on Offshore Structures of high pressure control valve

Abstract: This study have goal with conceptual design for Offshore Structures of high pressure control valve for localization. Ball valve for development accomplished with flow analysis based on provision of ANSI B16.34, ANSI B16.10, ANSI B16.25 In order to localize the Offshore Structures high pressure control valve. Numerical simulation using CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamic) in order to predict a mass flow rate and a flow coefficient form flow dynamic point of view. The working fluid assumed the glycerin (C3H8O3). The valve inlet and outlet setup a pressure boundary condition. The outlet pressure was fixed by atmospheric pressure and calculated until increasing 1bar to 10bar. CFD analysis used STAR-CCM+ which is commercial code and Governing equations were calculated by moving mesh which is rotated 90 degrees when ball valve operated opening and closing in 1 degree interval. The result shows change of mass flow rate according to opening and closing angle of valve, Flow decrease observed open valve that equal percentage flow paten which is general inclination of ball valve. Relation with flow and flow coefficient can not be proportional according to inlet pressure when compare with mass flow rate. Because flow coefficient have influence in flow and pressure difference. Namely, flow can be change even if it has same Cv value. The structural analysis used ANSYS which is a commercial code. Stress analysis result of internal pressure in valve showed lower than yield strength. This is expect to need more detail design and verification for stem and seat structure.

Numerical Study on the Thermal Interaction of Gas-Particle Transport for a Vortex Flow Solar Reactor

Abstract: Solar reactors, by nature of their high temperature, are nearly experimentally inaccessible. Most instruments capable of measuring fluid flow cannot survive the harsh temperatures inside the reactor. As such, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has been relied on to provide insight into the flow within the reactor. Because of the size of the computing resources necessary to properly account for all of the physical mechanisms within the solar reactor, the current state of numerical simulations only provide a limited level of insight. The present study provides an analysis of flow behavior and thermal interaction of gas-particle flow for a directly irradiated vortex flow solar reactor. The thermal hydraulics between gas flow and particle has been considered by two way coupled Euler-Lagrange approach. A two band discrete ordinate (DO) model has been considered to solve radiative transport between walls and entrained particles. The effect of main flow, secondary flow, particle loading, particle diameter and residence time are studied to analyze flow physics and heat transfer. Results are presented in terms of static temperature contours, temperature distribution along the center line of the cavity, path lines and particle temperature. It is observed that with the increase in main flow, secondary flow and particle diameter average outlet temperature of the fluid increases, and with the increase in particle loading the outlet temperature decreases. The particle exit temperature is observed to increase with the increase in residence time.© 2010 ASME

Temperature insensitive mass flow controller

Abstract: A temperature insensitive mass flow controller comprising a main flow line, a capillary tube coupled to the main flow line across a bypass a thermal sensing element coupled to the capillary tube and a mass flow controller housing adapted to at least cover the capillary tube. A first heat sink has been coupled to the mass flow controller internal to the mass flow controller housing and coupled to the capillary tube. The heat sink being adapted to control a temperature of a gas in the capillary tube.