Apparatus and Method for Measuring the Water Content of Oil Flowing in a Pipe

The present invention relates to measuring apparatus and methods in general and, more particularly, to apparatus and method for measuring the water content of oil.

Apparatus which measures the water content of oil flowing in a pipe includes continuously sampling the oil to provide a stream of sample oil, equipment having a stream of sample oil passing through it changes the temperature of the sample oil by a predetermined amount. Transducers on either side of the equipment determines the acoustical velocity of the stream sample oil prior to the temperature change and after the temperature change and provide corresponding signals. A network connected to the sensors provides a signal corresponding to the water content of the oil in accordance with the signals from the sensors and the predetermined temperature change.

The objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detailed description which follows, taken together with the accompanying drawings wherein one embodiment of the invention is offered by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for illustration purposes only and are not to be construed as defining the limits of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a partial simplified block diagram and a partial schematic diagram of apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention for measuring the water content of oil flowing in a pipe.

FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of the water signal means shown in FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIG. 1, oil in a pipeline is continuously sampled by way of another line 2 wherein an acoustical receiver-transmitter 5, which may be of a conventional type, provides a signal V1 corresponding to the acoustical velocity of the sample oil in line 2. The sample oil is provided to a heater 8 wherein the sample oil is heated by a predetermined amount and provided to another line 10. Situated in line 10 is a conventional temperature sensor 12 and a temperature controller 14 which in turn provides a control signal E1 to a valve 18 in a steam line 20 so as to control the heating of the sample oil to increase the sample oil temperature by a predetermined amount. It should be noted that although the present embodiment is shown heating the oil by a predetermined amount, it could just as well be shown as decreasing the temperature of the sample oil by a predetermined amount. The heated sample oil in line 10 has its acoustical velocity sensed by another receiver transmitter 5A which provides a signal V2 corresponding to the acoustical velocity of the heated sample oil in line 10. An element identified with number and a suffix is identical to an element having the same number but no suffix.

Receiver-transmitters 5, 5A provide signals V1 and V2, respectively, to water signal means 30 which provides signal W, corresponding to the water content in accordance with signals V1, V2 and the known predetermined temperature change.

Referring to FIG. 2, subtracting means 33 in water signal means 30 subtracts signal V2 from signal V1 to provide a signal .DELTA. V corresponding to the change in acoustical velocity of the sample oil due to the temperature change. Signal .DELTA. V is applied to comparators 34, 34A and 34N. The break in the .DELTA. V signal line between comparator 34A and comparator 34N indicates any number of comparators may be utilized but only three are shown for convenience. Comparators 34, 34A and 34N receive reference signals R1, R2 and RN, respectively, corresponding to different values for signal .DELTA. V. In effect, comparators 34, 34A and 34N determine the amplitude level of signal .DELTA. V. Comparators 34, 34A and 34N provide control signals to switches 36, 36A and 36N, respectively, receiving direct current voltages W1, W2 and WN, respectively. Voltages W1, W2 and WN correspond to predetermined values of water content in oil for various changes .DELTA. V in the acoustical velocity of the oil due to the known temperature change. It is obvious that there can be numerous combinations of values since the value of the temperature change may be different. However, it is only necessary to set up one set of values for a particular oil type and a particular temperature change. The outputs of switches 36, 36A and 36N are tied to a common point so that the control signals from comparators 34, 34A, 34N will render one of the switches conductive to pass that particular voltage applied to it as signal W.

Signal W may be recorded. It may also be used as a control signal whereby when signal W reaches a certain value it will in turn stop the oil flowing in line -since it contains too much water all of which is not shown but would be obvious to one skilled in the art.

The present invention as hereinbefore described is apparatus and method of measuring the water content of oil flowing in a line. The oil is continuously sampled to provide sample oil which has its temperature changed by a predetermined amount. The acoustical velocity of the sample oil is sensed prior to and after the temperature change and the water content is determined in accordance with the sensed acoustical velocities and the known temperature change.