Constant volume temperature to pressure transducer for use with retrievable pressure sensor assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017191360-A9
Application number	US-201414543520-A
Country	US
Kind code	A9
Filing date	Nov 17, 2014
Priority date	Nov 17, 2014
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A temperature sensor for measuring a temperature within a subsea installation includes a fixture portion coupled to the subsea installation and a retrievable portion that is selectively operable to couple to the fixture portion. The fixture portion includes a constant volume of a fluid disposed at a measurement point within the subsea installation. The retrievable portion includes a pressure sensing element operable to measure a pressure associated with the constant volume of fluid such that a temperature at the measurement point is determinable.

First claim

That claimed is:

1 . A temperature sensor assembly for monitoring a temperature at a measurement point within a subsea installation, the temperature sensor assembly comprising:
a fixture portion operable to be installed within the subsea installation, the fixture portion comprising:
a constant volume container operable to be positioned at the measurement point, the constant volume container filled with a fixed volume of a temperature responsive fluid such that an increase in a temperature at the measurement point induces an increase in a pressure of the temperature responsive fluid; and
a fixture connector operable to be positioned at an accessible location on the subsea installation, the fixture connector including a fixture connector reservoir bounded by a first ambient diaphragm and a first seating surface, the fixture connector reservoir hydraulically coupled to the constant volume container such that an increase in a pressure of the temperature responsive fluid urges the first ambient diaphragm away from the first seating surface; and
a retrievable portion operable to selectively couple to the fixture portion, the retrievable portion comprising:
a retrievable connector operable to couple the retrievable portion to the fixture portion, the retrievable connector including a retrievable connector reservoir bounded by a second ambient diaphragm, the second ambient diaphragm operably engaged with the first ambient diaphragm such that the second ambient diaphragm is urged away from the first seating surface by the first ambient diaphragm when the first ambient diaphragm is urged away from the first seating surface by an increase in the pressure of the temperature responsive fluid, and wherein a pressure within the retrievable connector reservoir increases in response to movement of the second ambient diaphragm away from the first seating surface; and
a pressure sensor operable to detect and measure the pressure within the retrievable connector reservoir.

2 . The temperature sensor assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the retrievable connector reservoir is further bounded by a second seating surface hydraulically coupled to the pressure sensor via a capillary tube, and wherein the pressure sensor is operable to detect and measure the pressure within the retrievable connector reservoir through the capillary tube.

3 . The temperature sensor assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the second ambient diaphragm is operable to engage the second seating surface under the influence of an ambient pressure when the retrievable connector is decoupled from the fixture connector.

4 . The temperature sensor assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the second seating surface is concavely shaped and wherein the second ambient diaphragm is conformable to the concave shape under the influence of the ambient pressure.

5 . The temperature sensor assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the retrievable portion of the temperature sensor assembly further includes an actuator that is selectively operable to urge the second ambient diaphragm away from the second seating surface and into contact with the first ambient diaphragm when the retrievable connector is coupled to the fixture connector.

6 . The temperature sensor assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the actuator includes a pressurized actuation fluid selectively releasable from a pressurized container to urge a pressure transferring fluid into the retrievable connector reservoir.

7 . The temperature sensor assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising an overload protection module fluidly coupled between the constant volume container and the fixture connector, the overload protection module including a protection diaphragm and a first protection seating surface, wherein the protection diaphragm is configured to engage the first protection seating surface in response to a minimum overload pressure in the temperature responsive fluid.

8 . The temperature sensor assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the overload protection module further includes a second protection seating surface opposite the first protection seating surface, wherein a second protection diaphragm is configured to engage the second protection seating surface in response to a minimum overload ambient pressure.

9 . The temperature sensor assembly according to claim 8 , further composing a pressure-transferring fluid disposed between and in contact with the second protection diaphragm and the first ambient diaphragm such that the pressure-transferring fluid is operable to communicate a pressure from the constant volume container to the fixture connector reservoir.

10 . The temperature sensor assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the constant volume container is in hydraulic communication with the fixture connector reservoir through at least one capillary tube.

11 . A temperature sensor assembly for monitoring a temperature at a measurement point within a subsea installation, the temperature sensor assembly comprising:
a retrievable connector including a retrievable connector reservoir bounded by an ambient diaphragm and a seating surface, wherein the ambient diaphragm is urged into contact with the seating surface by an exterior pressure; a pressure sensor operable to detect and measure a pressure within the retrievable connector reservoir; and an actuator that is selectively operable to urge the ambient diaphragm away from the seating surface to thereby hydraulically couple the retrievable connector reservoir to a constant volume container that is disposed at the measurement point and is filled with a fixed volume of a temperature responsive fluid that increases in pressure in response to an increase in temperature at the measurement point.

12 . The temperature sensor assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the actuator includes a pressurized actuation fluid selectively releasable from a pressurized container to urge a pressure transferring fluid into the retrievable connector reservoir.

13 . The temperature sensor assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the actuator further comprises an evacuated compartment, wherein the pressure transferring fluid is disposed within a reservoir that extends into the evacuated compartment when the ambient diaphragm is urged into contact with the seating surface, and wherein the pressurized actuation fluid is releasable into the evacuated compartment to urge the pressure transferring fluid from the evacuated compartment toward the retrievable connector reservoir.

14 . The temperature sensor assembly according to claim 13 , further comprising a flexible diaphragm disposed within the evacuated compartment, the flexible diaphragm operably coupled to the pressure transferring fluid such that when the pressurized actuation fluid is released into the evacuated compartment, the flexible diaphragm transfers a pressure from the pressurized actuation fluid to the pressure transferring fluid.

15 . A method of measuring a temperature at a measurement point within a subsea installation, the method comprising:
installing a constant volume container at the measurement point, the constant volume container filled with a fixed volume of a temperature responsive fluid such that an increase in a temperature at the measurement point induces an increase in a pressure of the temperature responsive fluid; installing a fixture connector at an accessible location on the subsea installation, the fixture connector including a fixture connector reservoir bounded by a first ambient diaphragm and a first seating surface, the fixture connector reservoir hydraulically coupled to the co

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Seeberg Bjørn Erik
• Grinde Christopher

Classifications

• G01K5/326

  using a fluid container connected to the deformable body by means of a capillary tube · CPC title

• E21B41/0007

  for underwater installations (E21B41/005, E21B41/04, E21B41/06, E21B41/08, E21B41/10 take precedence) · CPC title

• G01V9/005

  by thermal methods, e.g. after generation of heat by chemical reactions · CPC title

• G01K11/00

  Measuring temperature based upon physical or chemical changes not covered by groups G01K3/00, G01K5/00, G01K7/00 or G01K9/00 · CPC title

• E21B47/0001 Primary

  Fixed Constructions · mapped topic