Patent ID: 7591191

Claim:
A flow meter system, for measuring one or more fluid flow rates in a gas and liquid multiphase system, comprising: means for in-line separation of a multiphase flow into at least a gas flow and a liquid flow in a first separation region in a pipe; means for measuring said liquid and said gas flows in a second measurement region immediately following said first separation region; means for recombining said liquid and said gas flows into a substantially homogeneous mixture; means for taking further measurements on said substantially homogenous mixture following said means for recombining, whereby said flow meter system enables a flow rate measurement over a range of gas volume fractions, particularly higher gas volume fractions with improved accuracy; said means for in-line separation, further comprises: means for separating said multiphase flow into a core of gas and a film of liquid on an internal wall of said pipe; and said means for measuring said liquid and said gas flows further comprises: means for measuring a set of properties of said liquid flow and for enabling a calculation of a total liquid max flux there from.