Methods and systems are provided for measuring a velocity of a droplet passing through a microfluidic channel.

Methods and systems are provided for measuring a velocity of a droplet passing through a microfluidic channel.

A method of measuring air data of an aircraft is provided. The method includes emitting, by a laser disposed on the aircraft, laser light into air outside the aircraft, the laser tuned to induce a laser-induced plasma channel (LIPC) in the air. The method also includes sensing, by a sensor system disposed on the aircraft, at least one property of the LIPC. The method further includes computing, by a computing device disposed on the aircraft, the air data of the aircraft based on the at least one property of the LIPC.

Apparatus (10) and methods for making simultaneous measurements of composition (water-cut), fluid flow, and sound attenuation in a multiphase fluid flowing (15) through a pipe (12) in real-time, using the same apparatus (10) are described. Additionally, the apparatus (10) provides real-time pipe wall thickness monitoring for observing pipe corrosion or internal deposition. Knowledge of wall thickness is necessary to correct for water-cut (oil-water composition) automatically by adjusting the liquid path length internal to the pipe (spool). The use of short duration frequency chirp excitation signals (24) enables the apparatus to provide information that can be used to extract multiple levels of information from the same measurement in multiphase fluids including the presence of a significant quantity of gas (60% gas volume fraction) in different flow regimes. Besides measuring steady flow, this device is useful for measurements during fast changing flows, such as for a rod-pumped well. Measurements up to about 1000 times a second can reliably be made.

Apparatus (10) and methods for making simultaneous measurements of composition (water-cut), fluid flow, and sound attenuation in a multiphase fluid flowing (15) through a pipe (12) in real-time, using the same apparatus (10) are described. Additionally, the apparatus (10) provides real-time pipe wall thickness monitoring for observing pipe corrosion or internal deposition. Knowledge of wall thickness is necessary to correct for water-cut (oil-water composition) automatically by adjusting the liquid path length internal to the pipe (spool). The use of short duration frequency chirp excitation signals (24) enables the apparatus to provide information that can be used to extract multiple levels of information from the same measurement in multiphase fluids including the presence of a significant quantity of gas (60% gas volume fraction) in different flow regimes. Besides measuring steady flow, this device is useful for measurements during fast changing flows, such as for a rod-pumped well. Measurements up to about 1000 times a second can reliably be made.

A monitoring apparatus for monitoring a multiphase flow in a pipe, the apparatus comprising: a first monitoring module coupled to the pipe and adapted to provide first output data representing a respective concentration of one phase of a plurality of phases, or a mixture of at least two of the phases, in the multiphase flow by processing at least one first variable representing electrical permittivity of one phase or a mixture of at least two of the phases of the multiphase flow; a second monitoring module coupled to the pipe and adapted to provide second output data representing a respective concentration of one phase, or a mixture of at least two of the phases, of the plurality of phases in the multiphase flow by processing at least one second variable representing electrical conductivity of one phase or a mixture of at least two of the phases of the multiphase flow; and a third monitoring module coupled to the pipe and adapted to provide third output data representing a respective velocity of at least one phase of the plurality of phases in the multiphase flow by processing at least one third variable representing velocity of at least one of the phases. There is a further provided a monitoring method for monitoring a multiphase flow in a pipe. There is a further provided an oil well system including a plurality of oil wells, and one or more monitoring apparatus for monitoring a multiphase flow in a pipe. There is a further provided a method of operating an oil well system using a multiphase fluid flow model which is calibrated or modified based on measured parameters of the multiphase flow.

A monitoring apparatus for monitoring a multiphase flow in a pipe, the apparatus comprising: a first monitoring module coupled to the pipe and adapted to provide first output data representing a respective concentration of one phase of a plurality of phases, or a mixture of at least two of the phases, in the multiphase flow by processing at least one first variable representing electrical permittivity of one phase or a mixture of at least two of the phases of the multiphase flow; a second monitoring module coupled to the pipe and adapted to provide second output data representing a respective concentration of one phase, or a mixture of at least two of the phases, of the plurality of phases in the multiphase flow by processing at least one second variable representing electrical conductivity of one phase or a mixture of at least two of the phases of the multiphase flow; and a third monitoring module coupled to the pipe and adapted to provide third output data representing a respective velocity of at least one phase of the plurality of phases in the multiphase flow by processing at least one third variable representing velocity of at least one of the phases. There is a further provided a monitoring method for monitoring a multiphase flow in a pipe. There is a further provided an oil well system including a plurality of oil wells, and one or more monitoring apparatus for monitoring a multiphase flow in a pipe. There is a further provided a method of operating an oil well system using a multiphase fluid flow model which is calibrated or modified based on measured parameters of the multiphase flow.

A monitoring apparatus for monitoring a multiphase flow in a pipe, the apparatus comprising: a first monitoring module coupled to the pipe and adapted to provide first output data representing a respective concentration of one phase of a plurality of phases, or a mixture of at least two of the phases, in the multiphase flow by processing at least one first variable representing electrical permittivity of one phase or a mixture of at least two of the phases of the multiphase flow; a second monitoring module coupled to the pipe and adapted to provide second output data representing a respective concentration of one phase, or a mixture of at least two of the phases, of the plurality of phases in the multiphase flow by processing at least one second variable representing electrical conductivity of one phase or a mixture of at least two of the phases of the multiphase flow; and a third monitoring module coupled to the pipe and adapted to provide third output data representing a respective velocity of at least one phase of the plurality of phases in the multiphase flow by processing at least one third variable representing velocity of at least one of the phases. There is a further provided a monitoring method for monitoring a multiphase flow in a pipe. There is a further provided an oil well system including a plurality of oil wells, and one or more monitoring apparatus for monitoring a multiphase flow in a pipe. There is a further provided a method of operating an oil well system using a multiphase fluid flow model which is calibrated or modified based on measured parameters of the multiphase flow.

A monitoring apparatus for monitoring a multiphase flow in a pipe, the apparatus comprising: a first monitoring module coupled to the pipe and adapted to provide first output data representing a respective concentration of one phase of a plurality of phases, or a mixture of at least two of the phases, in the multiphase flow by processing at least one first variable representing electrical permittivity of one phase or a mixture of at least two of the phases of the multiphase flow; a second monitoring module coupled to the pipe and adapted to provide second output data representing a respective concentration of one phase, or a mixture of at least two of the phases, of the plurality of phases in the multiphase flow by processing at least one second variable representing electrical conductivity of one phase or a mixture of at least two of the phases of the multiphase flow; and a third monitoring module coupled to the pipe and adapted to provide third output data representing a respective velocity of at least one phase of the plurality of phases in the multiphase flow by processing at least one third variable representing velocity of at least one of the phases. There is a further provided a monitoring method for monitoring a multiphase flow in a pipe. There is a further provided an oil well system including a plurality of oil wells, and one or more monitoring apparatus for monitoring a multiphase flow in a pipe. There is a further provided a method of operating an oil well system using a multiphase fluid flow model which is calibrated or modified based on measured parameters of the multiphase flow.

A vehicle-position monitoring system includes liquid-capacitive inclinometer sensor, configured to provide a measurement of grade (.sub.grade) of a surface over which a vehicle travels, and an accelerometer to measure acceleration of the vehicle along a principal axis (a.sub.x) of the vehicle along the surface. Direct measurement of the grade (.sub.grade) provides a position-tracking system with accurate information to extract acceleration due to motoring and braking (a.sub.MB) form acceleration experienced along the principal axis and track vehicle position without regard to wheel diameter calibration.