JP3180157B2 - Variable mode microwave water content monitor - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to water content monitoring devices, and more particularly to a microwave water content monitoring device, i.e., a device for monitoring the volumetric water content of a fluid, such as an oil flow in a pipe.

[0002]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a variable mode microwave moisture monitoring system including a test cell for containing a fluid sample. The device operates in different operating modes of the monitoring device,
Preferably a normal test mode, in order to realize at least two calibration mode, controlling the emissions and the supply of the fluid sample. The microwave source supplies microwave energy to a first antenna, which supplies the microwave energy to the fluid in the test cell. The second antenna receives microwave energy that has passed through the fluid sample. The detector detects the received microwave energy and generates a signal representative thereof. The indicator indicates the power of the received signal, the phase difference between the microwave energy supplied by the microwave source and the received microwave energy,
Determine the water content of the fluid sample according to the calibration data for only water and the calibration data for oil only, which are recorded inside.
To instruct .

[0003] The objects and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, one embodiment of the invention. . However, it should be expressly understood that the drawings are only for purposes of illustration and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

[0004]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The water content monitoring apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes a microwave source 3 for supplying electromagnetic energy at microwave frequencies (hereinafter referred to as microwave energy). The microwave source 3 has low power, and may use a microwave gun source. Microwave source 3 supplies microwave energy to directional coupler 4. The directional coupler 4 converts the microwave energy into voltage controlled phase shifter means 5 of a conventional type,
This is supplied to the antenna 7 of the test cell 8. All microwave conduction, or transport, is accomplished by using conventional types of waveguides and coaxial cables.

[0005] A pipe 10 for transporting a sample fluid flowing into the cell 8 is connected to the test cell 8. The sample fluid leaves the test cell 8 via the pipe 11. The test cell 8 and the sample fluid will be described in more detail below.
Here, it is sufficient to state that the microwave energy emitted from the antenna 7 passes through the sample fluid and is received by the antenna 9. The microwave energy received by the antenna 9 exits the test cell 8 and is converted into test microwave energy by the directional coupler 18.
Supplied to Directional coupler 18 supplies test microwave energy to detector 22 and mixer 28. Detector 22 generates a signal E1 corresponding to the power of the microwave energy leaving test cell 8.

[0006] The phase shifter means 5 supplies microwave energy (hereinafter referred to as reference microwave energy) to a mixer 28, which mixes the reference microwave energy and the test microwave energy to form a reference microwave energy. Two electrical signals E2 and E3 are generated which represent the phase of the energy and the phase of the test microwave energy, respectively.

The differential amplifier 30 generates an output signal E0 according to the difference between the signals E2 and E3. This signal E0 is a function of the phase difference between the reference microwave energy and the test microwave energy and is provided to a feedback network. The feedback network 34 supplies a signal C for controlling the phase of the reference microwave energy to the phaser means 5 and to the computer means 40.

As a result of the operation of the feedback circuit 34, the amplitude of the signal E0 decreases to 0, at which point the phase difference between the reference microwave energy and the test microwave energy is approximately 90 °. At this time, the phase shifter means 5 sends an "enable" signal to the computer means 40, which causes the computer means 40 to output a signal C that is proportional to the phase difference between the test microwave energy and the reference microwave energy. Is read.

A temperature sensor 42 senses the temperature of the test cell 8, and thus the temperature of the sample fluid in the test cell, and provides a signal T corresponding to the sensed temperature.

The computer means 40 stores in a memory means data relating to its phase and power for various moisture contents which may appear in the production stream, and the signals E1, T and C Are supplied to the computer means 40. The phase shifter means 5 further provides an enable signal to the computer means 40 which causes the computer means 40 to select an appropriate moisture content value using these signals T, C and E1. The computer means 40 supplies a signal corresponding to the selected moisture content value to the reading means 44. The reading means 44 may be any one of a display means or a recording means, or a combination of the two.

The monitoring device of the present invention has various operation modes. In this regard, during the test mode of operation, the inlet pipe 57 penetrating the pipe 60 is
A part of the petroleum stream flowing through zero is taken as a sample. The test is to determine the moisture content of the petroleum stream. The sample stream is supplied to a three-way valve means 64. With respect to the primary test mode, the sample flow enters the pipe 10 via the three-way valve means 64. The sample stream flows through the test cell 8 and the pipe 11 and passes through another three-way valve means 68.

The sample flow is supplied from the three-way valve means 68 to the pipe 71.
And returns to the pipe 60. The pipe 60
Includes a restrictor 75 (shown by dotted lines) that allows the liquid in the pipe 60 to flow into and out of the pipe 71 by allowing the oil to flow more rapidly through the outlet pipe 71. The pipe 71 has a stub 77 with a valve 80 that can be used to vent gas as needed.

In a second mode of operation, an inlet pipe 85 having a valve 87 supplies a sample stream of petroleum to the separation means 94.
Valve 87 may be used to drain fluid from separation means 94. The separating means 94 is connected to the three-way valve means 64 by a pipe 97.

The three-way valve means 68 is also connected to the separating means 100 by a pipe 104. The separating means 100 includes the valve 1
It is also connected to another pipe 108 having 10. The pipe 108 is connected to an outlet pipe 115 having a valve 116 communicating with the pipe 60. A stub pipe 120 having a valve 125 is connected to the pipes 108 and 115, which stub pipe may be used to evacuate gas generated in those pipes.

Referring to FIG. FIG. 2 shows a test cell 8 having a microwave inlet port 140. On the opposite side of the test cell 8 is a microwave outlet port 143, as shown by the dotted line. Connecting the microwave inlet port and the microwave outlet port is a microwave channel 158.

FIG. 2 also shows a fluid channel 148. FIG. 3 is a cutaway view of the test cell 8 as viewed in the direction of arrow 3-3. The body 155 shown in FIG. 3 may be metallic, with the fluid channel 148 passing through the body 155 along one axis and the microwave channel 158 transmitting microwave energy traversing the channel 148.

It should also be noted that the fluid channel 148 has a rectangular cross section so that the microwave energy passing through the fluid always has the same passage distance.

Referring to FIG. FIG. 4 shows a view of the test cell 8 as seen in the direction of arrow 4-4 shown in FIG. Microwave channel 158 is connected to fluid channel 14
8, a solid material 162 such as high-density Teflon which conducts microwave energy except for the portion forming the cross section of FIG.
Is filled with The main body 155 has a microwave inlet port 140 formed therein. Further, it is connected to the microwave inlet port 140 and the microwave channel 15
There is another chamber 170 penetrating into the eight solid materials 162. This is a chamber for inserting a microwave antenna 7, such as a commercially available part number 2057-5134 type antenna manufactured by Omni Spectra. Similarly, it can be seen from the figure that the microwave exit port 143 used for the antenna 9 is also provided with a chamber 175 that penetrates into the solid material 162. Basically, this antenna is of the same type as the antenna inserted by the entrance port 140.

When microwave energy is applied to antenna 7, it enters solid material 162 and is directed across fluid channel 148 before exit port 143.
To the antenna 9 inserted in the antenna.

Referring also to FIG.
And 11 are conventionally connected to a fluid channel 148 such that the sample fluid in the pipe 10 flows through the test cell 8 as needed. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the temperature sensor 42, which can be constituted by a thermocouple, is inserted into a chamber formed in the main body 155, and reads the temperature of the main body 155 as a reference temperature and a temperature of a production flow sample.

The second operation mode is a calibration mode in which the fluid sample in the test cell 8 is tested not under flow conditions but under two static conditions. The first static condition is that the sample fluid is applied to the test cell 8 as described above for the normal test mode.
, And then actuate the three-way valve means 64 and 68 simultaneously so that no flow occurs to capture the fluid sample in the test cell 8. After a predetermined delay time, the fluid sample is tested in normal operation as indicated above. Note that all the valves, whether the three-way valve means 64 and 68 or the other valves shown, can be controlled from the operator console, but are controlled by the operation of the computer means 40. Should. The “valve control signal” indicated by a dashed line indicates that the
0, 116 and 125 and the respective three-way valve means 64 and 68 receive separate control signals from the computer means 40 and indicate that they are controlled by the signals.

The calibration is generally completed using one of two additional static modes of operation, a third mode and a fourth mode. The third mode of operation is best suited for oil-rich fluids, in which a fluid sample is applied to pipe 57, three-way valve means 64, pipes 10 and 11, test cell 8 and three-way valve. Separation means 100 through which the oil component passes and the water component does not pass
After flowing into the water, the calibration parameters required for the water phase can be determined. At that point, the three-way valve means 64 is operated to prevent fluid from returning to the oil flow in the pipe 60. Next, when to operate the valve 1 1 0,
This valve prevents further fluid flow. After a predetermined delay time, the fluid sample is tested as indicated by normal operation above. In this measurement, a calibration signal related to the characteristics of the water is obtained.

In a fourth mode of operation, which is optimal for fluids with a high water content, oil measurements are performed. Since the valve 87 is open, the fluid sample passes through the oil component and passes through the water component.
Flows into no separation means 94 is, reaches from there into the three-way valve means 64 via a pipe 97. The three-way valve means 64 is controlled so that fluid continues to flow into the pipes 10 and 11 of the test cell 8. After the fluid flows for a short time from the pipe 11 to the pipe 71 or from the pipe 11 to the pipe 104, the three-way valve means 68 is operated so that the fluid does not flow to the pipe 104 or the pipe 71. If the pipes 10 and 11 of the test cell 8 and thus the separating means 94 are completely filled with fluid, it operates to close the valve 87 and prevents fluid from returning into the oil stream. Also in this case, after a predetermined delay time, measurement is performed using the above-described ordinary test method. This measurement results in a calibration signal related to the properties of the oil.

The fifth operation mode is a flushing operation mode, but both separation means are full. To this end, the valves 87, 110 and 116 are actuated to the release position, so that fluid flows from the separating means 94 via the pipe 85 into the pipe 97. The three-way valve means allows fluid to flow from pipe 97 via pipe 10 to test cell 8, which supplies fluid to pipe 11. The three-way valve means 68 allows the fluid received from the pipe 11 to flow into the separating means 100 via the pipe 104. Therefore, the separating means 100 causes the sample fluid to flow into the pipe 108 via the valve 110, and finally returns to the pipe 60 via the pipe 115 and the valve 116.

The fifth mode of operation is the separation modes 100 and 9
4 constitutes another means for filling. During this operation, a brief closure of valve 64 will provide water data to the computer means, and a brief closure of valve 68 will provide oil data to the computer means. This alternative can be used in situations where a complete stoppage of the oil flow should be avoided in view of corrosion or fouling issues.

In any of the cases described above, computer means 40 collects the phase and amplitude data and uses it to refer to the appropriate calibration constants stored in the memory of computer means 40. Using these calibration constants, the pipes 57 to 10, 11
To predict the correct water / oil ratio of the fluid flowing to the pipe 71 via

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially simplified block diagram of a variable mode microwave water content monitoring device configured according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the test cell shown in FIG.

3 and 4 are cross-sectional views of the test cell shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 3 microwave source 7 antenna 8 test cell 9 antenna 10, 11 pipe 22 detector 40 computer means 42 temperature sensor 44 reading means 57 inlet pipe 60 pipe 64, 68 three-way valve means 71 outlet pipe 85 inlet pipe 87 valve 94 separating means 97 pipe 100 Separation means 104, 108 Pipe 110 Valve 115 Outlet pipe 116 Valve 148 Fluid channel 155 Body 158 Microwave channel

────────────────────────────────────────────────── (7) Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor David John Stavish United States 77065 Houston Pantano Drive, Texas, 12310 (56) References JP-A-63-140948 (JP, A) (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01N 22/00-22/04

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An apparatus for monitoring the water content of an oil stream in a pipe (60), comprising: a test cell (8) for containing a liquid sample of the oil stream ; a microwave source (3) for microwave energy ; Coupled to this microwave source to
A first antenna for emitting microwave energy ; a second antenna for receiving microwave energy passing through the liquid sample ;
An antenna (9) ; and a microwave energy coupled to and received by said second antenna.
A signal corresponding to the power of the lugies detected
A detector (22) for producing (E1) ; the second antenna, the microwave source and the detection
The power signal (E1) and the radiated
Microwave energy and received microwave
Liquid sample according to the phase difference between the energies (C)
Indicator (44) for indicating the moisture content in the
In the variable mode microwave water content monitoring device, a fluid sample is transferred from the pipe (60) to the test cell (8).
A fluid sample supply means for controlling inflow of the fluid sample;
The supply means is provided with a fluid sample disposed in the pipe.
An accessible first inlet (57) is included and
A first valve provided between the inlet and the test cell;
The flow of the fluid sample from the pipe to the test cell
A first valve, controlled in response to the first valve control signal, is included
And the first valve is a three-way valve (64).
And a first inlet port coupled to the first inlet (57).
A second inlet port and the test cell (8).
The first valve control signal.
From the first inlet port to the outlet port, depending on
Whether or not to flow fluid from the second inlet port
Control whether or not to flow the fluid to the outlet port
And coupled to the second inlet port of the first three-way valve (64)
Connected to the pipe (60) and the fluid therefrom
A second inlet (85 ) through which a fluid can flow in and which controls the outflow of a fluid sample from said test cell (8)
A sample discharging means is provided.
An outlet ( 71) for flowing a sample into the pipe (60) ;
A second valve (6) connecting this outlet (71) to the test cell
8) and the flow of the fluid sample from the test cell to the outlet
A second valve for controlling the flow in response to the second valve control signal;
Are connected to the fluid sample supply means and the fluid sample discharge means.
Producing the first and second valve control signals.
To the fluid sample supply means and the fluid sample discharge means
Providing a variable mode, comprising:
Microwave moisture content monitoring device.