Flow meter assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12492929-B2
Application number	US-202118005215-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 21, 2021
Priority date	Jul 27, 2020
Publication date	Dec 9, 2025
Grant date	Dec 9, 2025

Abstract

A flow meter assembly for a dispensing line includes a differential pressure transmitter, a pressure transmitter, a temperature transmitter and a controller in communication with each transmitter. The controller is configured to use data collected from the transmitters to determine if there is subcooling or two-phase flow of a fluid flowing through the dispensing line and to meter fluid flowing through the dispensing line if there is subcooling or no two-phase flow.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A flow meter assembly for a dispensing line comprising:
a differential pressure transmitter; a pressure transmitter; a temperature transmitter; and a controller in communication with the differential pressure transmitter, the pressure transmitter and the temperature transmitter; wherein the controller is configured to compare a discharge pressure from the pressure transmitter to a saturation pressure determined using a temperature from the temperature transmitter to determine if there is two-phase flow or subcooling of a fluid flowing through the dispensing line and to meter fluid flowing through the dispensing line if there is subcooling or no two-phase flow.

2 . The flow meter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the data collected includes discharge pressure data from the pressure transmitter.

3 . The flow meter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the data collected includes temperature data collected from the temperature transmitter.

4 . The flow meter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the differential pressure transmitter includes a restricting element.

5 . The flow meter assembly of claim 4 , wherein the restricting element is an orifice.

6 . The flow meter assembly of claim 4 , wherein the differential pressure transmitter includes a first pressure sensor tap located on the dispensing line upstream from the restricting element.

7 . The flow meter assembly of claim 4 , wherein the differential pressure transmitter includes a second pressure sensor tap located on the dispensing line downstream from the restricting element.

8 . The flow meter assembly of claim 6 , wherein the pressure transmitter is connected to the first pressure sensor tap of the differential pressure transmitter.

9 . The flow meter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine a density of a cryogenic fluid flowing through the dispensing line using a temperature from the temperature transmitter or a temperature from the temperature transmitter and a discharge pressure from the pressure transmitter.

10 . A method of monitoring flow in a cryogenic fluid dispensing system comprising the steps of:
a. storing cryogenic fluid in a tank; b. directing cryogenic fluid so that it flows through a dispensing line to a use device; c. monitoring a temperature and a discharge pressure of the cryogenic fluid flowing in the dispensing line; d. determining a saturation pressure of the cryogenic fluid flowing in the dispensing line using the monitored temperature; e. comparing the discharge pressure to the saturation pressure; f. metering the cryogenic fluid flowing in the dispensing line as long as the discharge pressure is a predetermined level above the saturation pressure; g. terminating metering of the cryogenic fluid flowing in the dispensing line when the discharge pressure is less than the predetermined level above the saturation pressure.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of closing a dispensing valve in the dispensing line if the discharge pressure is less than the predetermined level above the saturation pressure.

12 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising the steps of determining a differential pressure of the cryogenic fluid flowing in the dispensing line and using the differential pressure to calculate a flow rate that is used in metering the cryogenic fluid flowing in the dispensing line.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising the step of using the monitored temperature to determine a density of the cryogenic fluid flowing in the dispensing line and using the density in metering the cryogenic fluid flowing in the dispensing line.

14 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising the step of using the monitored temperature and the discharge pressure to determine a density of the cryogenic fluid flowing in the dispensing line and using the density in metering the cryogenic fluid flowing in the dispensing line.

Assignees

• Chart Inc

Inventors

• Wagner Roland

Classifications

• G01F15/022

  using electrical means · CPC title

• G01F15/005

  Valves (valves in general F16K) · CPC title

• Y02E60/32

  Hydrogen storage · CPC title

• G01F15/02

  Compensating or correcting for variations in pressure, density or temperature · CPC title

• G01F1/74 Primary

  Devices for measuring flow of a fluid or flow of a fluent solid material in suspension in another fluid · CPC title