Sensors, Instrumentation and Methods to Monitor Two- and Three-phase Flows: from Cryogenics to Oil Production

Abstract

This paper is a review of our works on implementation of measuring systems for two-phase helium, hydrogen, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and oil production. In principle, two-phase flow-meters combining void fraction radio-frequency (RF) sensors and narrowing devices are considered in details. In particular, they can be applied for superconducting accelerators cooled with two-phase helium, refueling hydrogen system for space ships and some applications in LNG production industry. To produce these cryogenic two-phase flow-meters it is necessary to combine such devices as low temperature sensors, cryogenic void fraction sensors, sensors responsive to average velocity of the two-phase flow, pressure sensors and electronics to measure their signals. The measuring systems for two-phase liquefied natural gas (LNG), and oil-formation/salty water flows are also presented. These systems are based on combination of a gamma-densitometer and a narrowing device. It is shown as well that the experience gained allows separationless flow-meter for three-phase oil-gas- formation water flows to be produced.

Keywords

• Helium
• Hydrogen
• LNG
• Oil
• Formation-water
• Multiphase phase flow
• RF-sensor
• Gamma-densitometer Narrowing device
• Flow-meter.