System and method for measuring or monitoring of a low concentration dispersed phase

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for measuring and/or monitoring concentrations of a dispersed phase in a fluid. A wettable surface may be used that is configured to be selectively wettable by the dispersed phase in the fluid being tested/monitored and the amount of or the rate of change of the wetting/deposition of the dispersed phase on the wettable surface is sensed and used to monitor the concentration of the dispersed phase.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for monitoring a dispersed phase in a flowing immiscible fluid mixture in real time, comprising:
 measuring a flow rate of the flowing immiscible fluid mixture;   contacting a wettable sensing surface with the the flowing immiscible fluid mixture, wherein the wettable sensing surface is configured to be preferentially wettable by the dispersed phase;   measuring a rate of change of an amount of the dispersed phase on the wettable sensing surface; and   using the rate of change of the amount of the dispersed phase on the wettable sensing surface and the flow rate to determine a concentration of the dispersed phase in the flowing immiscible fluid mixture.   
     
     
         2 . The method for monitoring the dispersed phase in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the wettable sensing surface is disposed within a conduit and the flowing immiscible fluid mixture flows through the conduit. 
     
     
         3 . The method for monitoring the dispersed phase in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the conduit is configured for transporting hydrocarbons 
     
     
         4 . The method for monitoring the dispersed phase in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the conduit is configured for transporting water. 
     
     
         5 . The method for monitoring the dispersed phase in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein determining the concentration of the dispersed phase comprises using a cross-sectional area of the wettable sensing surface to determine the concentration. 
     
     
         6 . The method for monitoring the dispersed phase in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein determining concentration of the dispersed phase comprises disposing the wettable sensing surface in a conduit, flowing a portion of the flowing immiscible fluid mixture through the conduit and using a cross-sectional area of the conduit to determine concentration. 
     
     
         7 . The method for monitoring the dispersed phase in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the wettable sensing surface is configured to be preferentially wettable by water. 
     
     
         8 . The method for monitoring the dispersed phase in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the wettable sensing surface is configured to be preferentially wettable by oil. 
     
     
         9 . The method for monitoring the dispersed phase in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the wettable sensing surface comprises a hydrophilic material or is coated in a hydrophilic material. 
     
     
         10 . The method for monitoring the dispersed phase in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the wettable sensing surface comprises a hydrophobic material or is coated in a hydrophobic material. 
     
     
         11 . The method for monitoring the dispersed phase in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein measuring a rate of change of the amount of dispersed phase on the wettable sensing surface is performed by least one of optical analysis, electrical analysis, microwave analysis, ultrasonic analysis and Doppler analysis. 
     
     
         12 . The method for monitoring the dispersed phase in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the measuring the rate of change of the amount of the dispersed phase on the wettable sensing surface comprises repeatedly measuring the amount of the dispersed phase on the wettable sensing surface. 
     
     
         13 . The method for monitoring the dispersed phase in accordance with  claim 1 ,wherein the repeatedly measuring the amount of the dispersed phase on the wettable sensing surface comprises making measurements of the amount of the dispersed phase on the wettable sensing surface at a rate of more than one measurement per second. 
     
     
         14 . A sensor system for measuring a concentration of a fluid component of a flowing fluid mixture, comprising:
 a flow meter for measuring a flow rate of the fluid mixture;   a wettable surface configured to selectively collect a portion of the fluid component from the fluid mixture, wherein the wettable surface is configured to provide for selective wetting of the active surface by the fluid component;   a measurement device configured to repeatedly measure an amount of the fluid component on the wettable surface; and   a processor configured to determine a concentration of the fluid component from the flow rate and the repeated measurements of the amount of the fluid component on the wettable surface.   
     
     
         15 . The sensor system of  claim 14 , wherein the active surface has a known surface area. 
     
     
         16 . The sensor system of  claim 14 , wherein the measurement device is configured to make multiple measurements every second. 
     
     
         17 . The sensor system of  claim 14 , wherein the measurement device comprises at least one of an electromagnetic transmission or absorption measurement system, an acoustic signal transmission or adsorption measurement system and a system for measuring changes in electrical properties of the fluid component collected on the wettable surface. 
     
     
         18 . The sensing system according to  claim 14 , wherein the wettable surface is configured to be wettable by water. 
     
     
         19 . The sensing system according to  claim 14 , wherein the wettable surface is wet with water before the wettable surface is contacted with the fluid mixture. 
     
     
         20 . The sensing system according to  claim 14 , wherein the wettable surface is configured to be wettable by oil 
     
     
         21 . The sensing system according to  claim 14 , wherein the wettable surface is wet with oil before the sensing surface is contacted with the fluid mixture. 
     
     
         22 . The sensing system according to  claim 14 , wherein the wettable surface comprises a hydrophilic material or is coated with a hydrophilic material 
     
     
         23 . The sensing system according to  claim 14 , wherein the wettable surface comprises a hydrophobic material or is coated with a hydrophobic material. 
     
     
         24 . The sensing system according to  claim 14 , wherein the measuring of the amount of the fluid component on the wettable surface is performed by least one of optical analysis, electrical analysis, microwave analysis, ultrasonic analysis, Doppler analysis.