FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of fluid measurement device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a flow meter suitable for determining fluid characteristics.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Flow meter is a device for quantifying fluid movement. For instance, volumetric flow rate of a fluid can be measured using target flow meter and vortex flow meter. Target flow meter comprises a target for determining the force of fluid impinging thereon in which the force is measured by mechanical stress which is later converted into velocity. However, the mechanical stress is subjective to temperature variation and the force of fluid is density dependent. Therefore, these parameters need to be corrected. On the other hand, vortex flow meter comprises of a bluff and a vortex sensor in which the fluid creates vortices as it impinges the bluff. The vortex sensor measures the frequency of the vortices and converts it into velocity. These velocities are then converted into volumetric flow rate based on mathematical algorithm. These types of flow meter may be used to determine the mass flow rate of a fluid using a pre-calibrated density. However, they face difficulties in the presence of temperature and pressure fluctuation and multiphase flow application. This is due to the non-linear relationship between the density, temperature, and pressure of multiphase flow. Alternatively, Coriolis flow meter may be used to determine mass flow rate of a fluid. It is based on the principle of motion mechanics. However, flow meter tube mechanic motion is temperature and pressure dependent. Therefore, Coriolis flow meter is highly sensitive to fluid temperature and pressure and ambient environment in which external vibration and magnetic field will substantially affect the accuracy thereof. Further, vapour phase in a multiphase flow may result in substantial measurement error due to density variation.

Machine learning may be used to overcome the drawbacks of conventional flow meter. Instead of relying on complicated mathematical algorithms, machine learning uses correlations to determine the outputs based on the inputs. For instance, Ahmadi et al. discloses an artificial neural network (ANN) for predicting oil flow rate of a reservoir, wherein the ANN comprises three layers with temperature and pressure as the inputs. In addition, China Patent Number CN106918377B discloses a virtual flow meter for use in a production system using temperatures and pressure drops as inputs. Existing virtual flow meters have limited inputs and therefore, limits the reliability and accuracy of the outputs.

Therefore, it is essential to provide a flow meter that is capable of obtaining a plurality of inputs in order to improve the reliability and accuracy of the output fluid characteristics. This invention provides a solution to the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

One aspect of the invention is to provide a flow meter suitable for determining fluid characteristics.

The flow meter in the present invention is capable of determining the fluid characteristics with improved reliability and accuracy by using a sensing module, a processing module, and a neural network module.

At least one of the preceding objects is met, in whole or in part, in which the embodiment of the present invention describes a flow meter (101) suitable for determining fluid characteristics comprising (a) means (102) for holding a probe (103); (b) a sensing module (104) operatively coupled to the means (102) for holding a probe

(103) for collecting inputs, wherein the inputs comprise mechanical stresses, vibration, and temperature; (c) a processing module (105) operatively coupled to the sensing module (104) for converting the mechanical stresses into voltage, temperature into resistance, and vibration into frequency; and (d) a neural network module (106) operatively coupled to the processing module (105), the neural network module (106) uses the voltage, frequency, and resistance for determining fluid characteristics, wherein the fluid characteristics comprise at least mass flow rate.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the means (102) for holding a probe (103) is a semi-rigid cantilever arm.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sensing module

(104) comprises (a) a first sensing element for determining mechanical stresses produced by the fluid impinging on the probe; (b) a second sensing element for determining vibration induced by vortices when the fluid impinges on the probe; and

(c) a third sensing element for determining the temperature of the fluid.

Preferably, the first sensing element is a strain gauge sensor.

Preferably, the second sensing element is a piezo electric sensor.

Preferably, the third sensing element is a resistance temperature detector sensor.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sensing module (104) further comprises a forth sensing element (108) for determining pressure.

Preferably, the fourth sensing element is a pressure transducer. Still, according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fluid characteristics further comprise fluid density.

Yet, according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fluid characteristics further comprise liquid fraction.

Further, according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flow meter further comprises an output module (107) operatively coupled to the flow meter (101) for displaying the output data obtained from the neural network module (106) thereon.

One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiment described herein is not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the invention, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawing the preferred embodiment from an inspection of which when considered in connection with the following description, the invention, its construction and operation and many of its advantages would be readily understood and appreciated. Figure 1 shows an embodiment of flow meter suitable for determining fluid characteristics, wherein the flow meter comprises a processing module with a first sensing element, a second sensing element, and a third sensing element.

Figure 2 shows an embodiment of flow meter suitable for determining fluid characteristics, wherein the flow meter comprises a processing module with a first sensing element, a second sensing element, a third sensing element, and a fourth sensing element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, the invention shall be described according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention and by referring to the accompanying description and drawing. However, it is to be understood that limiting the description to the preferred embodiments of the invention is merely to facilitate discussion of the present invention and it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications without departing from the scope of the appended claim.

The following description is explained based on a preferred embodiment of the present invention as exemplified in Figure 1. The present invention relates to a flow meter (101) suitable for determining fluid characteristics.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flow meter comprises means (102) for holding a (103). Preferably, the means (102) for holding a probe (103) is a semi-rigid cantilever arm. When in use, the probe (103) may be positioned substantially at the centre of a conduit as fluid velocity is generally highest at the center. Preferably, the probe is a target having a shape of plate or sphere.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flow meter (101) further comprises a sensing module (104) operatively coupled to the means (102) for holding a probe (103) for collecting inputs, wherein the inputs comprise mechanical stresses, vibration, and temperature. Preferably, the sensing module (104) comprises (a) a first sensing element for determining mechanical stresses produced by the fluid impinging on the probe; (b) a second sensing element for determining vibration induced by vortices when the fluid impinges on the probe; and (c) a third sensing element for determining the temperature of the fluid. More preferably, the first sensing element is a strain gauge, the second sensing element is a piezo electric sensor, and the third sensing element is a resistance temperature detector sensor.

When in use, a fluid impinges the probe thereby exerting a force thereon while creating vortices which vibrate the probe. The force is measured by the strain gauge, whereas the vibration of the probe is simultaneously measured by the piezo electric sensor and the temperature of fluid is measured by the temperature sensor.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flow meter (101) further comprises a processing module (105) operatively coupled to the sensing module (104) for processing the inputs. In particular, the processing module (105) converts the mechanical stresses into voltage, temperature into resistance, and vibration into frequency. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the processing module (105) utilizes power spectral density in which the vibration data provided thereto may be converted into a plurality of frequency bin in which the desired frequency bin may be selected as the desired inputs. Advantageously, this may filter the noises present in the vibration input.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flow meter (101) further comprises a neural network module (106) operatively coupled to the processing module (105). The neural network module (106) uses the voltage, frequency, and resistance for determining the fluid characteristics, wherein the fluid characteristics comprise at least mass flow rate. The fluid characteristics may further comprise fluid density and liquid fraction.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in Figure 2, the sensing module (104) further comprises a forth sensing element (108) for determining pressure. Preferably, the forth sensing element (108) is a pressure transducer. When in use, the sensing module (104) further determines the pressure using the pressure transducer. Later, the processing module (105) converts the pressure into current. Then, the neural network module (106) further utilizes the current along with the voltage, frequency, and resistance for determining the fluid characteristics. Advantageously, the pressure input is beneficial especially for a fluid with a high content of gaseous phase. As such, this further improves the reliability and accuracy of fluid characteristics as determined by the neural network module (106) when handling the fluid with a high content of gaseous phase.

Further, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in Figure 1 or Figure 2, the flow meter (101) comprises an output module (107) having a screen for displaying the fluid characteristics obtained from the neural network thereon.

As set forth in the preceding description, the flow meter in the present invention is capable of determining the fluid characteristics with improved reliability and accuracy by using a sensing module, a processing module, and a neural network module. In particular, the sensing module is capable of collecting a plurality of inputs which are advantageous for the neural network module to accurately determining the fluid characteristics. Further, the reliability and accuracy of the fluid characteristics are not affected by changes in density due to pressure and temperature fluctuation or presence of multiphase flow. This is because the flow meter determines the fluid characteristics based on the neural network module rather than a physical sensor for measuring the density or a pre-calibrated density input which is later subjected to a mathematical algorithm for computing the fluid characteristics. The latter is less reliable and less accurate because the non-linear relationship between the density, temperature, pressure, and liquid fraction of a multiphase fluid. As such, the flow meter in the present invention is suitable for determining the fluid characteristics of a single phase fluid or multiphase fluid as well as suitable for applications.

One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiment described herein is not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention.