Metering systems and methods
A flow meter run offers autonomous operation whilst improving measurement performance & confidence, increased safety and improving the total cost of ownership. A plurality of isolation valve assemblies each offer DBB (Double Block & Bleed) isolation to isolate a component or meter run section. This DBB isolation includes components being extracted from the main metering line. The meter run philosophy is detailed with use of a novel rotational orifice meter, though other flow meters may be substituted. The flow meter run also features extractable filters, a rotational and extractable flow conditioner which includes open and blind isolation components. The rotational orifice meter can house several independent orifice plates or nozzles and extractable sample probes and temperature elements. Further instrument sensors include the direct (non-inferred) measurement of density and/or viscosity. The system is configured for multiple sensors to monitor performance, autonomy, validation and isolation.
1 . A rotary chamber isolation valve selectively operable to establish isolation between two sections of a flow meter run, said rotary chamber isolation valve comprising a housing having an internal chamber containing rotatable discs, each having different spots thereon that, via rotation of said rotatable discs, are selectively movable into and out of a working position residing inline of the two sections of said flow meter run to change a flow status of said rotary chamber isolation valve between a closed state establishing said isolation between said two sections of the flow meter run, and at least one flow state that allows flow between said two sections of the flow meter run.
2 . The valve of claim 1 wherein the different spots of each rotatable disc comprise at least one closed spot through which flow is fully obstructed, and one or more additional spots through which flow is allowed, whereby rotation of the discs into positions placing their respective closed spots in alignment with one another in the working position in-line between said two sections of the meter run is operable to achieve said closed state, while rotation of the discs into positions placing a pair of their additional spots in alignment with one another in the working position in-line between said two sections allows flow therebetween.
3 . The valve of claim 2 wherein the one or more additional spots of each disc includes a fully open pigging spot having a sufficiently sized opening to accommodate passage of a pig therethrough.
4 . The valve of claim 2 wherein the discs comprise a first disc, on which the one or more additional spots include a fully open spot, and a second disc, on which the one or more additional spots include at least one matching fully open spot.
5 . The valve of claim 4 wherein said fully open spot on the first disc is an only fully open spot of said first disc.
6 . The valve of claim 4 wherein said at least one matching fully open spot on the second disc is one of a plurality of fully open spots on said second disc.
7 . The valve of claim 4 wherein the one or more additional spots on the second dise comprise, on the second disc, an orifice spot characterized by an orifice is lesser diameter than the fully open spots.
8 . The valve of claim 7 wherein the one or more additional spots comprise, on the second disc, a multi-orifice spot characterized by multiple orifices of lesser diameter than the fully open spots.
9 . The valve of claim 4 wherein the one or more additional spots comprise, on the second disc, a multi-orifice spot characterized by multiple orifices of lesser diameter than the fully open spots.
10 . The valve of claim 2 wherein at least one of the additional spots is a flow conditioning spot configured to impart a conditioning action on the flow moving through the sections of the flow meter run.
11 . The valve of claim 10 wherein a plurality of the additional spots are flow conditioning spots configured to impart different conditioning actions on the flow moving through the sections of the flow meter run.
12 . The valve of claim 11 wherein the flow conditioning spots all belong to a same one of the discs.
13 . The valve of claim 2 wherein the different spots on at least one of the discs consist only of said at least one elesed spots providing full obstruction of flow, and at least one fully-open spot allowing unrestricted, non- conditioned flow.
14 . The valve of claim 2 wherein the different spots on the discs consist only of closed spots providing full obstruction of flow, and fully-open spots allowing unrestricted, non-conditioned flow.
15 . The valve of claim 2 wherein at least a subset of the different spots are each characterized by presence of a respective hole in the disc, and a separate respective plate installed on the disc at said respective hole to characterize the respective spot on the disc in a manner distinct from at least one other of the different spots on the same disc.
16 . The valve of claim 15 wherein said respective plate is removably installed on the disc.
17 . The valve of claim 15 wherein all of said different spots have said respective plates installed thereat.
18 . A flow meter run comprising one or more valves, of the type recited in claim 1 .
19 . The flow meter run of claim 18 wherein said one or more valves comprise a combined flow conditioner and line blind.
20 . The flow meter run of claim 18 wherein said one or more valves comprise a final downstream valve unit.
21 . The flow meter run of claim 18 wherein said one or more valves comprise two valves installed at opposite ends of a pipe section of the flow meter run, and cooperatively operable, in the closed state of each thereof, to establish double block and bleed (DBB) isolation of said pipe section.