Calibron Systems, Inc.

Flow Technology, Inc.

Eg&g Flow Technology, Inc.

Edward E Francisco, Jr

Gary D Cohrs

Samuel H Smith

Ronald J Jackson

A tube through which fluid flows is installed in a fluid system. A piezoelectric driver is mounted on the exterior of the tube. A piezoelectric sensor is also mounted on the exterior of the tube. A feedback loop from the sensor to the driver is adapted to cause vibrations in the tube at its resonant frequency or a harmonic thereof. One or more strain gauges mounted on the exterior wall of the tube sense the strain exerted on the exterior wall by the pressure of the fluid flowing through the tube. A temperature sensor mounted on the exterior wall of the tube senses temperature. A microprocessor determines the density of the fluid flowing through the tube responsive to the piezoelectric sensor, temperature sensor and the one or more strain gauges. The one or more strain gauges comprise a bridge circuit. Strain gauges comprise two arms of the bridge circuit and temperature dependent resistors comprise the other two arms of the bridge. The output from the one or more strain gauges is used to correct the frequency reading given by the piezoelectric sensor.

Method and apparatus for measuring a fluid characteristic

A densimeter is provided that is mounted on the side of a conduit carrying a fluid flow. The densimeter consists of an inlet and an outlet scoop which are immersed into the fluid flow through the conduit. A portion of the fluid flow enters into the first scoop and is directed into the densimeter where the fluid's density is measured and then exits through the exit scoop back into the fluid flow in the conduit.

Single flange installation densimeter

The parameters of flowing fluids are measured via the insertion of a two rotor assembly into the flowing fluid, the rotors adapted to rotate at different free running speeds, and being coupled such that the rotors share a common axis, and such that an angular displacement of one rotor relative to the other rotor applies a restoring torque to the other rotor, the restoring torque being dependent on the amount of angular displacement. The fluid flow induced angular displacement is related to the fluid mass flow rate, and the time interval between the passage of the rotors through a fixed reference plane extending radially from the common axis of the rotors is related to the density of the fluid. The apparatus incorporates rotors that are coupled by connecting them with a plurality of spring elements at two or more positions radially outward from the common axis of the rotors. The rotors may be oriented such that the rotor which is upstream in the flow is adapted to have a slower free running speed. The downstream rotor may be provided with means to move axially in response to the angular displacement induced shortening of the axial extension of the spring elements.

Method and apparatus for measuring fluid flow characteristics

A double cycle prover is used to calibrate meters which require long proving runs. A small volume or piston prover and a master flowmeter, are coupled in series with the meter under test, then the master flowmeter is calibrated against the small volume prover, and the meter under test is calibrated against the master flowmeter. A signal processor combines the proving cycles, to relate the small volume prover to the meter under test. A density meter is connected to the flow channel, if the meter under test is a mass flowmeter, and the signal processor uses the density measurement to relate the mass flow measurement of the meter under test with the volume flow measurement of the master flowmeter.

Method and apparatus for calibrating a flowmeter using a master meter

A fluid flowmeter prover uses a measuring cylinder in series with a flowmeter to calibrate the flow meter. The cylinder has a piston which travels in synchronism with the fluid, the flow rate of which is to be measured. At the downstream end of the cylinder, a poppet valve connected to and within the piston opens to allow the fluid to pass through the piston. The poppet valve has a valve rod connected to a first coupling. A second coupling engages the first coupling and through a motor draws the valve and piston to the upstream end of the cylinder where they disengage, releasing the valve and allowing it to close for another run. The cycle repeats when the second coupling is driven down to reengage the first coupling.

Apparatus for determining the characteristic of a flowmeter

A moveable fluid barrier (16) is driven from an upstream position to a downstream position through a measuring cylinder (18) connected fluidically in series with the flowmeter (22) under test to induce fluid flow therethrough at a flow rate related to the movement of the barrier. The response of the flowmeter is sensed during a plurality of time intervals as the barrier is driven through the conduit from the upstream position toward the downstream position in the course of a test run. The movement of the fluid barrier is also sensed (28) during these intervals. From the flowmeter response and the fluid barrier movement, a K-factor sample is determined for each interval. The K-factor samples are compared (12) with each other to selected a valid K-factor data point for the particular test run. Specifically, the criterion for determining a valid K-factor data point is the variation between K-factor samples under comparison.

System for selecting valid K-factor data points based upon selected

A fluid displacement measuring cylinder has near its ends, respectively, an inlet and an outlet. A fluid displacement measuring piston is adapted to travel through the measuring cylinder as a fluid barrier. A control piston having first and second sides is adapted to travel through the control cylinder as a fluid barrier. A rod connects the control piston only to the side of the measuring piston facing toward one end of the measuring cylinder. A gas pressurized plenum chamber is connected to the control cylinder so the force of the gas pressure urges the measuring piston toward the other end of the measuring cylinder. The movement of the measuring piston through the measuring cylinder is sensed and the movement of the control piston through the control cylinder is fluidically controlled. The pressure in the plenum chamber, which has a substantially larger volume than the control cylinder, is selected so as to cancel the force imbalance caused by the rod.

A freely rotatable turbine is placed in the path of flowing fluid to drive the turbine at an angular velocity that, at steady state, is dependent upon the linear velocity of the flowing fluid. A transient condition is created in the angular velocity of the turbine. The time constant of the transient condition is determined. The time constant is representative of the density of the flowing fluid--the shorter the time constant, the higher the density and vice versa. The transient condition is created by disturbing the free rotation of the turbine, namely, by imnpairing free rotation to reduce the angular velocity of the turbine to zero, and then permitting the turbine to return to free rotation.

Method and apparatus for measuring fluid density

A mechanical displacement flowmeter calibrator has a first fluid line external of the measuring cylinder of the calibrator connected between the inlet and outlet thereof. A flowmeter that produces flow-representative pulses is connected in the fluid line. A rod is connected to a measuring piston adapted to travel through the measuring cylinder as a fluid barrier. The rod drives the measuring piston through the measuring cylinder at a predetermined, constant speed and thereby determines the flow rate of the calibration. The displacement of the measuring piston is sensed as it travels through the measuring cylinder during a test run, while the pulses produced by the flowmeter are counted during the time interval in which the piston displaces a given volume. The flowmeter is preferably connected in the fluid line at the pressure null point. First and second annular edge seals around the periphery of the measuring piston form an annular cavity into which pressurized fluid, preferably a lubricant, is injected. Before a test run, fluid flow in a second fluid line, external of the measuring cylinder, is induced, thereby establishing a closed loop around the first and second fluid lines and the measuring cylinder. To initiate a test run, fluid flow through the second fluid line is blocked to operate the measuring piston. Simultaneously therewith, the measuring piston is driven through the measuring cylinder from end-to-end to execute a test run.

Apparatus and method for determining the flow characteristic of a

A mechanical displacement flowmeter calibrator has a first fluid line external of the measuring cylinder of the calibrator connected between the inlet and outlet thereof. A flow meter that produces flow-representative pulses is connected in the fluid line. A rod is connected to a measuring piston adapted to travel through the measuring cylinder as a fluid barrier. The rod drives the measuring piston through the measuring cylinder at a predetermined, constant speed and thereby determines the flow rate of the calibration. The displacement of the measuring piston is sensed as it travels through the measuring cylinder during a test run, while the pulses produced by the flowmeter are counted during the time interval in which the piston displaces a given volume. The flowmeter is preferably connected in the fluid line at the pressure null point. First and second annular edge seals around the periphery of the measuring piston form an annular cavity into which pressurized fluid, preferably a lubricant, is injected. Before a test run, fluid flow in a second fluid line, external of the measuring cylinder, is induced, thereby establishing a closed loop around the first and second fluid lines and the measuring cylinder. To initiate a test run, fluid flow through the second fluid line is blocked to operate the measuring piston. Simultaneously therewith, the measuring piston is driven through the measuring cylinder from end-to-end to execute a test run.

Apparatus for determining the flow characteristic of a volumetric

Apparatus and method for determining the flow characterstic of a

A measuring cylinder has at its ends an inlet and an outlet connected in a fluid system in series with a flowmeter. A measuring piston is adapted to travel through the measuring cylinder as a fluid barrier. A poppet valve on the inlet side of the measuring piston is adapted to seal a passage through the measuring piston when closed so the measuring piston travels through the measuring cylinder as a fluid barrier, and to permit fluid flow through the passage when open. A retracting piston is adapted to travel through a retracting cylinder having a smaller cross-sectional area than the measuring cylinder as a fluid barrier. A rod is connected between the retracting cylinder and the poppet valve to open and close the poppet valve as the retracting piston moves relative to the measuring piston. The movement of the retracting piston through the retracting cylinder is controlled so as to hold the measuring piston at an upstream position of the measuring cylinder prior to a test run, to release the measuring piston when a test run is initiated, and to return the measuring cylinder to the upstream position after the test run. In one embodiment, the movement of the retracting cylinder is controlled during the test run to maintain a constant difference in pressure between the upstream and downstream sides of the measuring piston.

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Paradise Valley, AZ, United States of America

Edward E Francisco, Jr