Development of a Passive Multiphase Acoustic Flow Meter

Measurement of flow in the petrochemical industry is extremely important as it allows for a safe and efficient process of operation, proper accounting and billing for products and compliance with environmental standards. Most measurement devices are invasive and costly to install due to the necessary shutdown of operation. The construction of an effective non-invasive multiphase flowmeter is in high demand. In US patent 10,578,471 B2, a technique is described which utilizes a passive acoustic device that measures sound propagation with and against the flow of the material in the pipeline. The information received from the device reveals the flow and speed of sound of the fluid, which provides phase information. The described device is passive and mounts externally, hence not interrupting the production of material through the pipeline. Two field device prototypes have been tested and a third is in the production stage. The theory, methodology, results, and predicted outcome of the project as a whole are presented and discussed.