Process variable measurement using universal flow technology connection platform

1. An apparatus for measuring flow of a process fluid, comprising:

an elongate spool providing a spool conduit therethrough adapted to be coupled in line with process piping to receive the flow of process fluid;

a meter body carried by the elongate spool receiving the spool conduit therethrough, the meter body including a flow measurement component opening which extends from the spool conduit to outside of the meter body;

a flow component configured for placement in the flow measurement component opening of the meter body;

a carrier configured to removably mount to the meter body and couple the flow measurement component to the spool conduit through the flow measurement component opening; and

a flow measurement transmitter coupled to the flow measurement component configured to measure the flow of process fluid based upon an interaction between the process fluid and the flow measurement component.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flow measurement component comprises a magnetic flow tube.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flow measurement component comprises a vortex shedding bar.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flow measurement component comprises a venturi tube.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flow measurement component comprises a coriolis tube.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flow measurement component comprises ultrasonic sensors.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flow measurement component comprises a thermal mass sensor.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flow measurement component comprises a wedge.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flow measurement component comprises an orifice plate.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flow measurement component comprises an averaging pitot tube.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the carrier includes passageways which conduct process fluid from the spool conduit to the transmitter.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the spool conduit is substantially straight.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the carrier is configured to fit on the meter body in at most one configuration.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the spool conduit has first and second ends which include flanges configured to couple to process piping.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the carrier includes a planar face configured to fluidically couple to a planar face of a transmitter flange connection.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the meter body is further configured to receive a sealing plate.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flow measurement transmitter includes a memory containing configuration information related to the elongate spool.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flow measurement transmitter includes a memory containing configuration information related to the flow measurement component.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the meter body is configured to receive different types of flow measurement components.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the meter body includes a secondary opening configured to receive a process variable sensor.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the process variable sensor comprises a temperature sensor.

22. A method for measuring flow of a process fluid through process piping, the method comprising the steps of:

placing an elongate spool in series with the process piping whereby the process fluid flows through the elongate spool, the elongate spool including a meter body having a flow measurement opening which extends from a spool conduit to outside of the meter body;

placing a flow measurement component into the spool conduit through the flow measurement component opening, the flow measurement component carried on a carrier;

measuring a process variable based upon an interaction of the flow measurement component with flow of process fluid; and

determining flow based upon the measured process variable.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the flow measurement component comprises a magnetic flow tube.

24. The method of claim 22 , wherein the flow measurement component comprises a vortex shedding bar.

25. The method of claim 22 , wherein the flow measurement component comprises a venturi tube.

26. The method of claim 22 , wherein the flow measurement component comprises a coriolis tube.

27. The method of claim 22 , wherein the flow measurement component comprises ultrasonic sensors.

28. The method of claim 22 , wherein the flow measurement component comprises a thermal mass sensor.

29. The method of claim 22 , wherein the flow measurement component comprises a wedge.

30. The method of claim 22 , wherein the flow measurement component comprises an orifice plate.

31. The method of claim 22 , wherein the flow measurement component comprises an averaging pitot tube.

32. The method of claim 22 , including providing passageways in the carrier which carry process pressure from the spool to a flow measurement pressure transmitter.

33. The method of claim 22 , wherein the carrier is configured to fit on the meter body in at most one configuration.

34. The method of claim 22 , including sealing the flow measurement component opening with a seal on a carrier plug.

35. The method of claim 22 , including storing configuration information related to the elongate spool in a memory.

36. The method of claim 22 , including storing containing configuration information related to the flow measurement component in a memory.

37. The method of claim 22 , wherein the flow measurement component opening is shaped to receive different types of flow measurement components carried on the carrier.

38. The method of claim 22 , including placing a process variable sensor in a secondary opening of the meter body.