General Electric Company

Ge Infrastructure Sensing, Inc.

Edward Randall Furlong

Xiaolei Shirley Ao

Colin James Mackenzie

John Daniel Friedemann

Anthony John Dean

Guanghua Wang

Christian Lee Vandervort

Venkat Eswarlu Tangirala

Samhita Dasgupta

Nirm Velumylum Nirmalan

Hejie Li

Baskaran Ganesan

Manoj Kumar Koyithitta Meethal

Benjamin Edward McDonald

Vamshi Krishna Reddy Kommareddy

David Michael Chapin

Shivappa Ningappa Goravar

Anquan Wang

William James Mailander

John Albert Umina

Oleg Alexander Khrakovsky

Nicholas Joseph Mollo

Nataraja Aswathanarayana Nagaranavile

Rodrick Gordon Brown

Stephen Thomas Walls

Muddassar Ali Muhammad

Robert Caravana

Lydia Shen

Vamshi Krishna Reddy Kommarredy

Methods and apparatus for measuring liquid fuel flows within a conduit are disclosed. An example flow sensor may include a conduit arranged to flow fuel therethrough along a flow axis, the conduit defining a flow area orthogonal to the flow axis. The flow sensor may further include a first transducer arranged to direct a first signal through the conduit proximate the flow area to a second transducer, the second transducer being arranged to direct a second signal through the conduit proximate the flow area to the first transducer, the first transducer being spaced apart from the second transducer by a signal path length, and in a direction parallel to the flow axis by an axial distance. The fuel flow measuring system may further include a processor arranged to calculate a fuel mass flow rate based on first and second signal transit times, known fuel properties and a fuel temperature.

Ultrasound fuel flow sensing and control

Flowmeters are disclosed herein that include one or more flow path features for improving the measurement accuracy or other aspects of the flowmeter. In some embodiments, the flowmeter includes a measurement section having a non-circular transverse cross-section in which one or more sensors for measuring flow are disposed. The non-circular measurement section can reduce distortion of ultrasonic waves, facilitate chordal measurements with flush-mounted transducers, and reduce the propagation distance between paired transducers. In some embodiments, the flowmeter includes a conditioning section with diametrically opposed longitudinal rib protrusions. The protrusions can reduce swirling flow, direct liquid components of a multi-phase flow towards the sidewalls of the flow path, and guide ballistic particles through the center of the flow path away from sensitive measurement devices.

Non-circular flowmeter

Flowmeters are disclosed herein that include one or more flow path features for improving the measurement accuracy or other aspects of the flowmeter. A flowmeter can include an elongate body having a first end and a second end and a flow path extending between the first and second ends along a longitudinal axis. An ultrasonic transducer can be disposed in a measurement section of the flow path and configured to emit ultrasonic waves into a material flowing through the flow path. First and second protrusions can be formed in a conditioning section of the flow path upstream from the measurement section, the first and second protrusions extending radially inward from a sidewall of the flow path and being configured to reduce swirling flow through the measurement section.

Flowmeter with a flow conditioner formed by a protrusion having restriction provided upstream of the measurement section

A device for measuring the physical characteristics of a flow within a pipe is disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, the device comprises a plug attached to two or more strut assemblies, each strut assembly comprising a forward strut, a rearward strut, and a skid having an inner surface that faces the plug, and one or more sensors located on the inner surface of the skid.

Device for measuring the characteristics of a flow within a pipe

A thermal measurement system that includes a light collection device and a detection system in communication with the device. The detection system includes two detection subsystems, wherein one subsystem is configured to detect light from a surface of an object, while the other subsystem is configured to detect light from the surface and a gas. The present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiment(s), and it is recognized that equivalents, alternatives, and modifications, aside from those expressly stated, are possible and within the scope of the appending claims.

Multiwavelength thermometer

An apparatus for mounting a pipe sensor is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a pipe and a sensor. The pipe has a pipe wall with a section removed defining a passage through the pipe wall. The sensor has a collar, is disposed in the passage, and is exposed to the interior of the pipe. In one embodiment, the sensor can be welded to the pipe wall. In another embodiment, an insert can be disposed in the passage between the sensor and the pipe wall, with a locking nut engaged with the insert and pressing upon the collar to fasten the sensor to the insert.

Apparatus for mounting pipe sensors

A torsional sensor for sensing at least one parameter of a fluid is disclosed. The torsional sensor includes a torsional portion coupled to a reference portion and including a plurality of projections extending outward and spaced apart from each other. At least a portion of the torsional sensor is mountable for immersion in the fluid and operable to propagate a torsional wave that interacts with the fluid along the at least portion of the torsional sensor so as to affect propagation of the torsional wave in a manner dependent on the at least one parameter of the fluid.

Torsional sensor, method thereof, and system for measurement of fluid parameters

An apparatus for use in determining a plurality of characteristics of a multiphase flow within a pipe is disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, the apparatus comprises first and second constrictions, a sheltered zone between the first and second constrictions, a sensing device coupled to an interior wall of the pipe, and a sheltered device coupled to the interior wall of the pipe and located within the sheltered zone. A first characteristic of the plurality of characteristics is determinable from data generated by the sensing device. A second characteristic of the plurality of characteristics is determinable from data generated by the sheltered device. In one exemplary embodiment, the first characteristic is a gas fraction, and the sensing device is a plurality of pressure sensors. In another exemplary embodiment, the second characteristic is a phase fraction, and the sheltered device is a plurality of electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) electrodes.

Apparatus for use in determining a plurality of characteristics of a multiphase flow within a pipe

A device for measuring the physical characteristics of a flow within a pipe is disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, the device comprises a hollow ring having an outer wall fixably attached to a meter flange that is inserted between two sections of pipe, and an inner wall on which a sensor is mounted to facilitate accurate flow measurements.

Insertion type flow measuring device for measuring characteristics of a flow within a pipe

An ultrasonic transducer assembly includes a proximal end and an opposing distal end. The transducer assembly includes an outer housing and an electroacoustic signal generating element secured within the outer housing. The signal generating element transmits an ultrasonic signal at a characteristic frequency along an ultrasonic path that is perpendicular to the face of the generating element. An isolation diaphragm is coupled to the proximal end of the outer housing. The isolation diaphragm is thin relative to a characteristic wavelength of the diaphragm material. A fluidic transmission layer is disposed between the electroacoustic signal generating element and the isolation diaphragm. In one embodiment, the isolation diaphragm is at an angle relative to the proximal face of the electroacoustic signal generating element. In another embodiment, a flow meter includes the ultrasonic transducer assembly, and the isolation diaphragm substantially matches the contour of the flow passage within the flow meter body.

Ultrasonic transducer device

In one embodiment, a multi-path ultrasonic flow meter for determining the flow rate of a fluid in a conduit is disclosed comprising at least two transducer pairs attached to the conduit at two chord locations, one greater than and one less than a mid-radius chord, wherein the composite ratio the two path velocities to the flow rate is substantially constant over the range of Reynolds numbers. In another embodiment, a method of determining the flow rate of a fluid in a conduit is disclosed comprising the steps of determining a composite velocity by determining a weighted average of a plurality of path velocities, determining a chord velocity ratio based on the path velocities, determining a profile correction factor based on the composite velocity and the chord velocity ratio, and determining the flow rate based on the composite velocity and the profile correction factor.

Method and system for multi-path ultrasonic flow rate measurement

A swirler having cross-sectional area comparable to the area of a detonation chamber is placed upstream of the detonation chamber to enhance the fuel-air mixing. The swirler has a first region and a second region, each of which induces swirl in the flow through the swirler. Each region induces a different direction of swirl in the flow. The residual net swirl present in the flow downstream of the swirler is controlled by the relative properties of each region of the swirler. The swirler also provides high optical blockage to inhibit the upstream propagation of flow due to the detonation shockwave.

Swirling flows and swirler to enhance pulse detonation engine operation

An ultrasonic flow meter system includes transducers arranged with respect to a conduit to define at least one chordal path through fluid flowing in the conduit, and at least one transmitting transducer and receiving transducer pair on the chordal path for generating a transit time signal. At least one receiving transducer is positioned to receive scattered energy to generate a range gated Doppler signal. The system further includes a processing subsystem for exciting the at least one transmitting transducer. The processing subsystem is responsive to the transit time signal and the range gated Doppler signal and configured to generate a velocity profile and a mean velocity of the fluid in the conduit.

Growing community of inventors

Beverly, MA, United States of America

Edward Randall Furlong