The present invention generally involves a system and method for sampling a fluid. In particular embodiments of the present invention, the system and method may be used to sample and measure a fluid from a pipeline without requiring pumps or other mechanical devices to provide fluid flow to a sensor.
Various systems are known in the art for sampling fluids from a fluid pathway. For example, a batch sample of the fluid may be obtained from the fluid pathway and analyzed locally or remotely. However, batch sampling of the fluid does not allow for continuous monitoring of the fluids which may be desirable for proper operations. To obtain continuous monitoring, a sample line may be connected to the fluid pathway, and a pump may be used to provide continuous fluid flow through the sample line to a sensor. Alternately, a mechanical device, such as an orifice or other flow restrictor, may be installed in the fluid pathway to divert fluid flow through the sample line to the sensor. However, the need for a pump or other mechanical device to provide fluid flow to the sensor increases the complexity, costs, and maintenance associated with the system. Therefore, an improved system and method for sampling a fluid from a fluid pathway that does not require a pump or other mechanical device to provide fluid flow to the sensor would be useful.
Aspects and advantages of the invention are set forth below in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
One embodiment of the present invention is a system for sampling a fluid. The system includes a conduit configured for fluid flow from an upstream point to a downstream point. An inner surface of the conduit has a substantially constant, unobstructed diameter between the upstream point and the downstream point. A sample line has an inlet that passes through the conduit proximate to the upstream point and an outlet that passes through the conduit proximate to the downstream point so that the sample line provides fluid communication outside of the conduit from the upstream point to the downstream point. An inlet port in the sample line is radially inward from the upstream point and faces substantially upstream inside the conduit. A fluid characteristic sensor is in fluid communication with the sample line.
The present invention may also include a method for sampling a fluid that includes flowing the fluid through a conduit from an upstream point to a downstream point, wherein the conduit has an inner surface with a substantially constant, unobstructed diameter between the upstream point and the downstream point. The method further includes providing fluid communication from the upstream point to the downstream point through a sample line outside of the conduit, wherein the sample line has an inlet port radially inward from the upstream point and facing substantially upstream inside the conduit. In addition, the method includes flowing at least a portion of the fluid through a fluid characteristic sensor in fluid communication with the sample line.
In another embodiment, a method for sampling a fluid includes connecting a sample line to a conduit, wherein the conduit has an inner surface with a substantially constant, unobstructed diameter between an upstream point and a downstream point. The method further includes providing fluid communication from the upstream point to the downstream point through the sample line outside of the conduit, wherein the sample line has an inlet port radially inward from the upstream point and facing substantially upstream inside the conduit. In addition, the method includes flowing at least a portion of the fluid through a fluid characteristic sensor in fluid communication with the sample line.
Those of ordinary skill in the art will better appreciate the features and aspects of such embodiments, and others, upon review of the specification.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof to one skilled in the art, is set forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification, including reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
Reference will now be made in detail to present embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The detailed description uses numerical and letter designations to refer to features in the drawings. Like or similar designations in the drawings and description have been used to refer to like or similar parts of the invention.
Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit thereof. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Various embodiments of the present invention provide a system 10 and method for sampling a fluid from a fluid pathway 12. For example,
The sample line 16 includes an inlet 26 that passes through the conduit 14 at or proximate to the upstream point 18 and an outlet 28 that passes through the conduit 14 at or proximate to the downstream point 20. The inlet 26 of the sample line 16 extends inside the conduit 14 and terminates at an inlet port 30. As shown in
As shown in
In this manner, the sample line 16 provides fluid communication outside of the conduit 14 from the upstream point 18 to the downstream point 20. Specifically, with the inlet port 30 facing substantially upstream, the driving head of the fluid flowing through the conduit 14 allows at least a portion of the fluid to enter the inlet port 30 and flow through the sample line 16 outside of the conduit 14 before returning inside the conduit 14 through the outlet port 32. In the event that the outlet port 32 is located radially inward from the downstream point 20 and facing substantially downstream inside the conduit 14, as shown in
As shown in
The systems 10 shown in
The method may further include connecting the sample line 16 to the conduit 14 so that the inlet 26 passes through the conduit 14 at or proximate to the upstream point 18 and the outlet 28 passes through the conduit 14 at or proximate to the downstream point 20. Alternately, or in addition, the method may include connecting the sample line 16 to the conduit 14 so that the outlet port 32 is radially inward from the downstream point 20 and facing substantially downstream inside the conduit 14. In addition, the method they include isolating fluid flow through the sample line 16 and/or heating the sample line 16.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other and examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.