Determining Concentrations Of Components Of A Mixture

Systems and methods for determining concentrations of components of a multiphase fluid. A first flowmeter receives a fluid flow and generates measurements of the fluid flow. After at least partially separating the fluid flow into mixtures of its components, second and third flowmeters generate measurements of the mixtures. A data processing apparatus operatively coupled to the flowmeters receives the measurements and determines concentrations of the components of the fluid flow. In an embodiment, the measurements are mass flow and density readings

Spectral Analysis Techniques using Prism Signal Processing

The Prism is a new signal processing module which implements fully recursive, linear phase FIR filtering, so its computational cost is fixed irrespective of filter length. The Prism also has negligible design cost. Recent work has demonstrated how, using simple design rules, a chain of six Prisms can create a narrowband filter with arbitrary central frequency and bandwidth. In this paper, the technique is applied to spectral analysis of data, whereby a sequence of filters is applied to a data set to provide narrow frequency analysis, yielding accurate estimates of the frequencies and amplitudes of spectral peaks in the data. Although this time domain technique remains computationally expensive compared to the FFT, it can identify and reject spectral leakage, offering an alternative analysis for low amplitude and/or adjacent spectral peaks, including hidden tones, where FFT discrimination may be limited

An ultra-precise fast fourier transform

The Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) is a cornerstone of digital signal processing, generating a computationally efficient estimate of the frequency content of a time series. Its limitations include: (1) information is only provided at discrete frequency steps, so further calculation, for example interpolation, is often used to obtain improved estimates of peak frequencies and amplitudes; (2) ‘energy’ from spectral peaks may ‘leak’ into adjacent frequencies, potentially causing lower amplitude peaks to be distorted or hidden; (3) the FFT, like many other DSP algorithms, is a discrete time approximation of continuous time mathematics. This paper describes a new FFT calculation which uses two windowing functions, derived from Prism Signal Processing. Separate FFT results are obtained from each windowing function applied to the data set. Calculations based on the two FFT results yields high precision estimates of spectral peak location (frequency), amplitude and phase. This technique addresses FFT limitations as follows: (1) spectral peak parameters are calculated directly, unrestricted by FFT frequency step discretization; (2) the windowing functions have narrowband characteristics which attenuate and localize spectral leakage; (3) the windowing functions incorporate a Romberg Integration mechanism to overcome the discrete/continuous time approximation.</p

Complex Signal Processing for Coriolis Mass Flow Metering in Two-Phase Flow

This paper presents a new signal processing method based on Complex Bandpass Filtering (CBF) applied to the Coriolis Mass Flowmeter (CMF). CBF can be utilized to suppress the negative frequency component of each sensor signal to produce the corresponding analytic form with reduced tracking delay. Further processing of the analytic form yields the amplitude, frequency, phase and phase difference of the sensor signals. In comparison with previously published methods, CBF offers short delay, high noise suppression, high accuracy and low computational cost. A reduced delay is useful in CMF signal processing especially for maintaining flowtube oscillation in two/multi-phase flow conditions. The central frequency and the frequency range of the CBF method are selectable so that they can be customized for different flowtube designs

Flow Measurement Challenges for Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage

Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) is a key element in the United Kingdom Government strategy for reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The UK aims to capture and store 10 million tonnes of CO2 each year by 2030. At each stage in the CCUS infrastructure, accurate measurement of the CO2 flow rate is required, over a range of temperatures, pressures, flow rates and fluid phases, where the flow measurement must be validated through a credible traceability chain. The traceability chain provides the underpinning confidence required to verify meter performance, financial and fiscal transactions, and environmental compliance. The UK equivalent of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) specifies a maximum uncertainty value for CO2 flow measurement. Accordingly, the provision of accurate and traceable flow measurement of CO2 is a prerequisite for an operational CCUS scheme. However, there are currently no CO2 flow measurement facilities, nationally or internationally, providing traceable flow calibrations of gas phase, liquid/dense phase and supercritical phase CO2 that replicate real-world CCUS conditions. This lack of traceable CO2 gas and liquid flow measurement facilities and associated flow measurement standards is a significant barrier to the successful implementation of CCUS projects worldwide. This paper presents an overview of the traceability chain required for CO2 flow measurement in the UK and globally. Current challenges are described along with potential solutions and opportunities for the flow measurement community

Development of a Wireless Pressure Transmitter with Diagnostics

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Industry 4.0 require new intelligent sensor designs with enhanced functionality, including local diagnostics. In previous work, we have experimentally investigated an important fault mode of a commercial pressure sensor, working in partnership with the sensor manufacturer who has provided modified sensors with calibrated levels of the fault condition. We have further developed simple signal processing techniques to detect the fault condition, based on a low cost noise analysis. In the current paper, we describe the development of a prototype wireless pressure transmitter. This transmitter monitors the analogue output of the pressure sensor, and applies the diagnostic procedures in real time. The resulting pressure measurement in engineering units, together with diagnostic information, are both communicated wirelessly to a receiving system

Cooling channel free surface optimisation for additively manufactured casting tools

In the present study, an algorithm has been developed using the adjoint method to optimise the position and cross-section of an internal cooling channel for a 3D printed tool steel insert for use in the aluminium die-casting process. The algorithm enables the development of an optimised complex industrial mould with relatively low computational cost. A transient model is validated against multiple experimental trials, providing an adapted interface heat transfer coefficient. A steady state thermal model, based on the casting cycle and thermal behaviour at the mould surface, is developed to evaluate the spatial distribution of temperature and to serve as the initial solution for the subsequent optimisation stage. The adjoint model is then applied to optimise the cooling channel emphasising the minimisation of the temperature standard deviation for the mould surface. The original transient model is applied to the optimised mould configuration via calibration using experimental data obtained from a dedicated aluminium furnace. The optimised cooling channel geometry, which uses a non-uniform cross-section across the entire pipe surface region, improves the pressure drop and cooling uniformity across the mould/cast interface by 24.2% and 31.6%, respectively. The model has been used to optimise cooling channels for a range of industrial high-pressure aluminium die-casting (HPADC) inserts. This has yielded a significant improvement in the mould operational lifetime, rising to almost 130,000 shots compared to 40,000 shots for prior designs