Method and apparatus for the measurement of flow in gas or oil pipes
The present disclosure relates to a method and an apparatus for measuring a flow rate through a conduit, such as a pipeline. The method comprises providing a reference parameter, measuring a first parameter at a first position at the conduit and determining a difference between the first parameter and the reference parameter. The flow rate through the conduit is determined based on the difference between the first parameter and the reference parameter.
1. A method for measuring a flow rate through a conduit, the method comprising:
providing a reference temperature;
determining a first temperature using an infra-red sensor at a first position at the conduit;
determining a difference between the first temperature and the reference temperature; and
determining the flow rate through the conduit based on the determined difference,
wherein the measuring the first temperature from a distance to the first position.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing the reference temperature comprises measuring the reference temperature at the first position, and
wherein the first temperature is measured at a first time and the reference temperature is measured at a reference time.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing the reference temperature comprises measuring the reference temperature at a reference position.
4. A method for measuring a flow rate through a conduit, the method comprising:
providing a reference temperature;
measuring a first temperature at a first position at the conduit;
determining a difference between the first temperature and the reference temperature; and
determining the flow rate through the conduit based on the determined difference,
wherein the measuring the first temperature from a distance to the first position;
wherein the providing the reference temperature comprises measuring the reference temperature at a reference position; and
wherein the measuring the reference temperature comprises measuring one of a water temperature or a ground temperature as the reference temperature.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein measuring the first temperature comprises measuring a first temperature pattern.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising measuring a second temperature at a second position.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the conduit is a pipeline.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the flow rate is the flow rate of a fluid or a gas flowing through the conduit.
9. An apparatus for measuring a flow rate through a conduit, the apparatus comprising:
a first sensor for measuring a first temperature at a first position of the conduit; and
a calculation unit for determining a difference between the first temperature and a reference temperature and for determining the flow rate through the conduit based on the determined difference;
wherein the first sensor is an infra-red radiation sensor.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a reference sensor for measuring the reference temperature.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the calculation unit and the first sensor are arranged at a distance with respect to each other.
12. The method of claim 3 , wherein the measuring the reference temperature comprises measuring an environmental temperature.
13. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the reference temperature is an environmental temperature.
14. The method of claim 3 , wherein the measuring the reference temperature comprises measuring one of a water temperature or a ground temperature as the reference temperature.