Accuracy and Reliability Analysis of Pipe Irrigation Metering Device for Sandy Water Source

Sandy water sources are widely distributed and are important for agricultural development. However, no explicit result has been achieved in the research of the accuracy and reliability of pipeline metering devices as well as flow rate measurement objects (water or water–sand) of different metering devices in the process of pipelines conveying muddy water. In this study, seven kinds of sediment concentration gradients, C0–C6 (0.2–7.19%), and three different flow velocities (1.0 m/s, 1.25 m/s, 1.5 m/s) were set up, and a comparison measuring method was used to compare the flow values of three kinds of metering device (electromagnetic flowmeter, ultrasonic flowmeter and water meter) with a right triangle weir. The accuracy and reliability of the metering device were obtained by analyzing the change law of the relative error between each metering device and the right triangle weir under different flow velocities and different sediment concentrations, and the flow rate measurement objects of each metering device were finally clarified. The relative error between the electromagnetic flowmeter and right triangle weir decreased gradually with the increase in the flow velocity when the sediment concentration was constant. The maximum difference of the relative error between the electromagnetic flowmeter and the right triangle weir was 2.53% when the flow velocity was constant. Additionally, the minimum differences of the relative errors of the ultrasonic flowmeter and water meter were 2.67% and 6.90%, respectively. The measured flow law of the electromagnetic flowmeter was more in line with the measured flow law of the water–sand mixture measured by the right triangle weir. However, the relative errors of water and water–sand measured by the ultrasonic flowmeter and water meter fluctuate greatly, which does not accord with the law of muddy water measured by the right triangle weir. The results showed that the electromagnetic flowmeter has the best reliability among the three metering devices, and the accuracy can be improved by calibration before use or increasing the flow velocity of the pipe network. Under the sand grading used in this study, the electromagnetic flowmeter was recommended to measure the flow rate of pipe irrigation for sandy water sources in this paper.

Application of Real-Time Solid Measurement and Return Flow Rate During Coiled Tubing Milling Operations

Among the many applications of Coiled Tubing (CT) services, milling plugs and wellbore sand cleanout are two of the major applications. The transport of solids to the surface, as well as monitoring the return rates, are two sources of information which can have a significant impact on the execution of these jobs. Traditionally the flowback crew communicates this information to the CT control cab upon request. However, by utilizing an acoustic monitor and ultrasonic flowmeter, it can reduce the dependence on flowback operators and provide real-time solid measurement and return flow rate. The acoustic monitor is a passive, non-intrusive device that is designed to measure the acoustic noise induced into the pipe wall as solids impact the inside wall of the pipe. The ultrasonic flowmeter is a clamp-on device that is designed with two transducers that serve as both a transmitter and receiver. In order to prove the concept, five stages of trials were planned and executed. In stage one, CT was rigged into a 150m vertical test well. The equipment included CT mast unit, CT pump, choke manifold, and acoustic monitoring device. Several debris piles from previous milling operations were introduced to the test well, and a CT cleanout was performed. The acoustic monitor system measured the amount of solid to surface, and the results were evaluated. Solids retrieved were then compared to the initial debris piles and correlated to the data received by the acoustic monitor. On the 2nd stage, the acoustic monitoring device was utilized in actual milling operation. The 3rd stage was a yard trial of ultrasonic flowmeter using a CT pump and data acquisition system to evaluate the working envelope of this device, followed by a field trial, in stage 4, utilizing the flowmeter in actual milling operations. The final stage of this trial was planned and executed in milling operations on a five wells pad, utilizing the combined applications of acoustic monitoring (solid measurement) and ultrasonic flowmeter (return rate) devices. All five stages contributed to proof of concept for the applications of solid measurement and return flow rate devices. These trials were successfully planned, executed, and evaluated. The acquired data throughout the five stages of these trials were utilized during and post job operations as lessons learned to optimize the process for future applications. The real-time measurement of solids and flow rate monitoring, independent of flowback operators, enables the CT operator to make informed decisions throughout milling and cleanout operations. The real-time streaming of solids to surface and return flow rate enables the operator and service company’s Engineering team to evaluate and optimize the execution of milling and sand cleanout operations.

Investigation of Turbulence Parameters Influence on Results of CFD Modeling of Flow in Ultrasonic Flowmeter

The article investigated the influence of turbulence parameters of the SolidWorks Flow Simulations CFD package on the results of flow simulation in a two-path ultrasonic flowmeter. It has been found that the main turbulence parameters of SolidWorks Flow Simulations (turbulence intensity, turbulence length, turbulence energy and turbulence dissipation) slightly affect the result of the flow simulation in a full-filled pipeline of circular profile without additional turbulous elements (turbine, rotor, other). In view of this, during the CFD modeling of the flow measurement process using ultrasonic flowmeters, it is recommended to apply turbulence parameters installed in the SolidWorks Flow Simulations CFD package by default. At the same time, the time consumed by the computer to perform CFD modeling is almost unchanged when the specified parameters of the SolidWorks Flow Simulations CFD package.

Applicability of the PIV system for velocity field measurement inside the ultrasonic flowmeter

Ultrasonic (US) flow meters are devices for a fluid flow measurement using the ultrasonic principle. Current research project dealing with developing the ultrasonic flowmeter with an innovative channel shape. Previously the work was aimed to the topology optimization using the CFD methods. The final prototype has to be analyzed experimentally to verify the velocity profiles in the US measurement section. The obtained velocity profiles in this region are necessary as the input for the US sensor data evaluation. A particle image velocimetry (PIV) was selected as a potentially suitable technique for the velocity profiles measurement. This paper presents the development and initial testing of a new experimental setup including the experimental track and PIV system. Several modifications were realized during the preparation of the experimental setup. Finally, measurements were performed with a simplified model and the results were evaluated in the form of velocity profiles in the area of interest. The most important results are the knowledge about the requirements on the model preparation. The future work will be aimed to the prototype of the ultrasonic flowmeter.

Investigation of ultrasonic flowmeter error in distorted flow using two-peak Salami functions

Results of investigating the additional error of ultrasonic flowmeters caused by the distortion of the flow are presented in the article. The location coordinates of acoustic paths were calculated for their number from 1 to 6 according to the different numerical integrating methods: Gauss (Gauss-Legendre, Gauss-Jacobi), Chebyshev (equidistant location of acoustic paths), Westinghouse method, method of OWICS (Optimal Weighted Integration for Circular Sections). This made it possible to realize the flowrate equation for multi-path ultrasonic flowmeters and to determine their additional error for different location of the acoustic paths. The average flow velocity along each path is calculated based on the flow velocity profile in the pipe cross section. Four two-peak Salami functions of velocity are used to calculate the velocity profile of the distorted flow caused by typical local resistances. According to the research results the recommendations were developed for choosing the number of the acoustic paths of the ultrasonic flowmeters and for using the methods for determining the location coordinates of the acoustic paths.