Method and apparatus for modulating a flowpath

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10996092-B2
Application number	US-201616068851-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 9, 2016
Priority date	Feb 9, 2016
Publication date	May 4, 2021
Grant date	May 4, 2021

Abstract

A flowmeter ( 5 ) is provided having a sensor assembly ( 10 ) connected to meter electronics ( 20 ), wherein the sensor assembly ( 10 ) comprises at least one driver ( 104 ) and at least one pickoff ( 105 ) and a variably modulated conduit ( 300 ) configured to change a flow area ( 304 ) therein.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A flowmeter ( 5 ) having a sensor assembly ( 10 ) connected to meter electronics ( 20 ), wherein the sensor assembly ( 10 ) comprises at least one driver ( 104 ) and at least one pickoff ( 105 ), comprising:
a variably modulated conduit ( 300 ) wherein a majority of a length of the variably modulated conduit within the flowmeter is configured to uniformly change a flow area ( 304 ) therein.

2. The flowmeter ( 5 ) of claim 1 , wherein the flow area ( 304 ) is adjustable to maintain a desired fluid velocity of fluid flowing therein.

3. The flowmeter ( 5 ) of claim 2 , wherein the fluid velocity is maintained at a rate that maintains a desired delta time delay between pickoffs on the conduit.

4. The flowmeter ( 5 ) of claim 1 , comprising:
a first pressure sensor for measuring a first fluid pressure in the sensor assembly ( 10 );
a second pressure sensor for measuring a second fluid pressure in the sensor assembly ( 10 ); and
wherein the flow area ( 304 ) is adjustable to maintain a desired differential pressure between the first and second pressure sensors.

5. The flowmeter ( 5 ) of claim 1 , wherein the variably modulated conduit ( 300 ) comprises a fluid-actuated bladder ( 302 ) disposed in the flow area ( 304 ), wherein the fluid-actuated bladder ( 302 ) comprises an adjustable cross-sectional area.

6. The flowmeter ( 5 ) of claim 5 , comprising at least one support ( 308 ) configured to suspend the bladder ( 302 ) within the conduit ( 103 ).

7. The flowmeter ( 5 ) of claim 1 , wherein the variably modulated conduit ( 300 ) comprises a plurality of fluid-actuated bladders ( 402 ) disposed in the flow area ( 304 ), wherein the plurality of fluid-actuated bladders ( 402 ) are configured to adjust in size to displace fluid flow within the flow area ( 304 ).

8. The flowmeter ( 5 ) of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of fluid-actuated bladders ( 402 ) are disposed approximately equidistantly along an inner perimeter of the conduit ( 408 ) of the conduit ( 103 ).

9. The flowmeter ( 5 ) of claim 1 , wherein the variably modulated conduit ( 300 ) comprises a helically shaped bladder ( 802 ) disposed in the flow area ( 304 ), wherein the coiled bladder ( 802 ) comprises an adjustable cross-sectional area.

10. The flowmeter ( 5 ) of claim 5 , wherein the fluid-actuated bladder ( 302 ), plurality of fluid-actuated bladders ( 402 ), or helically shaped bladder ( 802 ) comprises a compliant material configured to expand and contract.

11. The flowmeter ( 5 ) of claim 5 , wherein the fluid-actuated bladder ( 302 ), plurality of fluid-actuated bladders ( 402 ), or helically shaped bladder ( 802 ) receives a fluid in an inner space ( 306 ) therein.

12. The flowmeter ( 5 ) of claim 9 , comprising a resilient inner membrane ( 806 ) disposed inside the coils of the helically shaped bladder ( 802 ) and defining the flow area ( 304 ).

13. The flowmeter ( 5 ) of claim 1 , wherein the variably modulated conduit ( 300 ) comprises a plurality of leaves ( 502 ) slidingly engaged to each other to form an adjustable flow area ( 304 ).

14. The flowmeter ( 5 ) of claim 13 , wherein an expandable membrane ( 506 , 508 ) is disposed proximate the plurality of leaves ( 502 ) to provide a fluid-tight seal.

15. The flowmeter ( 5 ) of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of leaves ( 502 ) is actuatable with a clamp member ( 512 ) to adjust the diameter of the plurality of leaves ( 502 ).

16. The flowmeter ( 5 ) of claim 1 , wherein the variably modulated conduit ( 300 ) comprises:
a stretchable membrane ( 602 ) comprising a helically woven net of fibers ( 604 ), wherein the helically woven net of fibers ( 604 ) defines the flow area ( 304 ).

17. The flowmeter ( 5 ) of claim 16 , wherein the woven net of fibers ( 604 ) is actuatable to adjust the diameter of the flow area ( 304 ).

18. The flowmeter ( 5 ) of claim 4 , comprising an inflatable conduit ( 902 ) disposed in the variably modulated conduit ( 300 ), wherein the inflatable conduit ( 902 ) comprises a first end open to the fluid, and a second end sealed to itself, configured to allow a static pressure to be measured therein and a pressure differential (ΔP) generally to be measured between the inflatable conduit ( 902 ) and the flow area ( 304 ).

19. The flowmeter ( 5 ) of claim 18 , wherein the inflatable conduit ( 902 ) comprises a compliant material that deform as a pressure therein increases.

20. The flowmeter ( 5 ) of claim 18 , wherein the variably modulated conduit ( 300 ) comprises a plurality of conduit walls ( 910 ) pivotable about a plurality of hinged joints ( 908 ), and wherein the inflatable conduit ( 902 ) is configured to contact the plurality of conduit walls ( 910 ) and modulate the flow area ( 304 ) by pivoting the plurality of conduit walls ( 910 ) about the plurality of hinged joints ( 908 ).

21. The flowmeter ( 5 ) of claim 18 , wherein the inflatable conduit ( 902 ) is configured to increase in size until a static pressure therein and a dynamic pressure in the flow area ( 304 ) reaches equilibrium.

22. A method of adjusting flow through a flowmeter conduit comprising the steps of:
providing a sensor assembly; and
providing a variably modulated conduit in the sensor assembly wherein a majority of a length of the variably modulated conduit is configured to uniformly change a flow area therein and being adjustable to maintain a desired fluid velocity of fluid flowing therein;
maintaining a fluid velocity at a rate that maintains a desired delta time delay between pickoffs on the conduit.

23. The method of claim 22 , comprising the steps of:
measuring a first fluid pressure in the sensor assembly;
measuring a second fluid pressure in the sensor assembly; and
adjusting flow area to maintain a desired differential pressure between the first and second fluid pressures.

24. The method of claim 22 , comprising the step of actuating at least one fluid-actuated bladder disposed in the flow area, wherein the at least one fluid-actuated bladder comprises an adjustable cross-sectional area.

25. The method of claim 22 , comprising the step of actuating at least one of a plurality of leaves disposed in the flow area to slidingly engage upon each other so to define an adjustable cross-sectional area.

26. The method of claim 22 , comprising the steps of:
providing an inflatable conduit disposed in the variably modulated conduit, comprising a first end open to the fluid, and a second end sealed to itself;
measuring a static pressure in the static pressure conduit;
measuring a dynamic pressure in the flow area; and
calculating a pressure differential (ΔP) between the inflatable conduit and the flow area.

27. The method of claim 26 , wherein the inflatable conduit comprises a compliant material that deform as a pressure therein increases.

28. The method of claim 27 , comprising the steps of:
providing a plurality of conduit walls pivotable about a plurality of hinged joints; and
modulating the flow area by pivoting the plurality of conduit walls about the plurality of hinged joints.

29. The method of claim 27 , comprising the steps of:
placing the plurality of conduit walls in contact with the static pressure conduit;
adjusting a size of the static pressure conduit due to a static pressure therein; and
ceasing to adjust the size of the inflatable conduit when an equilibrium

Assignees

• Micro Motion Inc

Inventors

• Keeney-Ritchie Miles
• Clinger Asher James
• Brush Nicole M
• Schlosser Martin Andrew
• Ferris Robert

Classifications

• G01F7/00

  Volume-flow measuring devices with two or more measuring ranges; Compound meters · CPC title

• F16K7/045

  by electric or magnetic means · CPC title

• G01F15/005

  Valves (valves in general F16K) · CPC title

• G01F1/8463 Primary

  the measuring conduits' cross-section being deformed during measurement, e.g. by periodically deflecting a portion of the conduits' surface · CPC title

• G01F1/8409

  constructional details · CPC title