System for measuring flow within a pipeline

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12540839-B2
Application number	US-202318172393-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 22, 2023
Priority date	Feb 22, 2023
Publication date	Feb 3, 2026
Grant date	Feb 3, 2026

Abstract

A system includes a pipeline and a valve mechanism defining an adjustable orifice. An actuator is coupled to the valve mechanism and operable adjust a size of the adjustable orifice. An upstream pressure sensor senses pressure of the fluid and an adjustment controller is communicatively coupled to the actuator and the upstream pressure sensor, wherein the adjustment controller actuates the actuator to adjust the size of the adjustable orifice based on data received from the upstream pressure sensor. A differential pressure sensor measures differential pressure across the adjustable orifice and a temperature sensor senses temperature of the fluid downstream from the adjustable orifice. A calculation controller is communicatively coupled to the adjustment controller, the differential pressure sensor, and the temperature sensor, wherein the calculation controller calculates flow rate of the fluid based on data received from the differential pressure sensor, the temperature sensor, and the adjustment controller.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for measuring a flow rate of a fluid, the system comprising:
a pipeline through which the fluid flows; a valve mechanism disposed in the pipeline and defining an adjustable orifice that is coaxial with the pipeline; an actuator coupled to the valve mechanism and operable to adjust a size of the adjustable orifice; an upstream pressure sensor operable to sense pressure of the fluid in the pipeline at a first upstream location of the pipeline upstream from the adjustable orifice; an adjustment controller communicatively coupled to the actuator and the upstream pressure sensor, wherein the adjustment controller is configured to actuate the actuator and thereby adjust the size of the adjustable orifice based on pressure data received from the upstream pressure sensor, wherein the adjustment controller is configured to compare the pressure data received from the upstream pressure sensor with predetermined pressure setting data; a differential pressure sensor operable to measure differential pressure across the adjustable orifice of the valve mechanism;
a temperature sensor operable to sense temperature of the fluid in the pipeline at a first downstream location of the pipeline downstream from the adjustable orifice; and
a calculation controller communicatively coupled to the adjustment controller, the differential pressure sensor, and the temperature sensor, wherein the calculation controller is configured to calculate the flow rate of the fluid based on differential pressure data received from the differential pressure sensor, temperature data received from the temperature sensor, and size data indicative of the size of the adjustable orifice received from the adjustment controller.

2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fluid source in fluid communication with an upstream end of the pipeline for supplying the fluid to the pipeline, the pipeline comprising the upstream end and a downstream end; and a flare stack in fluid communication with the downstream end of the pipeline for burning the fluid received from the pipeline.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the valve mechanism is an iris diaphragm valve.

4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the differential pressure sensor is operable to measure differential pressure between a second upstream location of the pipeline and a second downstream location of the pipeline, the adjustable orifice is located in between the second upstream location and the second downstream location.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the second upstream location is in between the first upstream location and the adjustable orifice.

6 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the second downstream location is in between the first downstream location and the adjustable orifice.

7 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the differential pressure sensor comprises a first sensing element positioned upstream of the adjustable orifice at the second upstream location and a second sensing element positioned downstream of the adjustable orifice at the second downstream location.

8 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the adjustment controller is configured to determine the size of the adjustable orifice.

9 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the valve mechanism is operable to change the size of the adjustable orifice among pre-established closure levels.

10 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the valve mechanism is operable to inhibit movement of the adjustable orifice into both a fully closed position and a fully open position.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein a beta ratio of the adjustable orifice is greater than or equal to 0.20 and less than or equal than 0.70, wherein the beta ratio is equal to the ratio of the size of the adjustable orifice to an inner diameter of the pipeline.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined pressure setting data is stored in a memory of the adjustment controller.

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined pressure setting data comprises a plurality of pressure ranges, and each of the plurality of pressure ranges corresponds to a particular adjustment to the size of the adjustable orifice.

14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the valve mechanism is an iris diaphragm valve.

15 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a beta ratio of the adjustable orifice is greater than or equal to 0.20 and less than or equal than 0.70, wherein the beta ratio is equal to the ratio of the size of the adjustable orifice to an inner diameter of the pipeline.

16 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined pressure setting data comprises a plurality of pressure ranges, and each of the plurality of pressure ranges corresponds to a particular adjustment to the size of the adjustable orifice.

17 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined pressure setting data is stored in a memory of the adjustment controller.

18 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the valve mechanism is an iris diaphragm valve; and the predetermined pressure setting data comprises a plurality of pressure ranges stored in the adjustment controller, with each of the plurality of pressure ranges corresponding to a particular adjustment to the size of the adjustable orifice.

19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the differential pressure sensor is operable to measure differential pressure between a second upstream location of the pipeline and a second downstream location of the pipeline, the adjustable orifice is located in between the second upstream location and the second downstream location, the second upstream location is in between the first upstream location and the adjustable orifice, and the second downstream location is in between the first downstream location and the adjustable orifice.

Assignees

• Saudi Arabian Oil Co

Inventors

• Al-Hazmi Shadi Mohammed
• Al-Shahrani Mohannad
• Al-Ahdal Ahmad
• Al-Shehri Hadi

Classifications

• G01F15/16

  Diaphragms; Bellows; Mountings therefor · CPC title

• G01F15/005

  Valves (valves in general F16K) · CPC title

• G01F1/6842

  with means for influencing the fluid flow · CPC title

• G01F1/42 Primary

  Orifices or nozzles · CPC title

• G01F1/26 Primary

  of the valve type · CPC title