APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CREATING INFERENTIAL PROCESS FLOW MEASUREMENTS USING FLOW RESTRICTOR AND UPSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM PRESSURE MEASUREMENTS

摘要

A method includes obtaining pressure measurements associated with fluid that passes through a flow restrictor, where the pressure measurements identify pressures upstream and downstream from the flow restrictor. The method also includes generating estimated flow measurements based on the pressure measurements. The method further includes comparing the estimated flow measurements and actual flow measurements generated by a flow meter that is fluidly coupled to the flow restrictor. In addition, the method includes determining whether a problem exists based on the comparison. The flow restrictor could provide a fixed restriction or a variable restriction for the fluid. An overall loss coefficient associated with the flow restrictor could be used to generate an estimated flow measurement.