Abstract: A flowmeter for detecting gas flow rates in a pipe includes a container configured to be attached to the pipe having a channel through which the gas flows, and a plurality of recesses that extend through the container and a plurality of housings, each recess having a housing. The flowmeter includes a plurality of transducers, with one transducer of the plurality of transducers disposed in each housing in each recess, the transducers transmitting ultrasonic signals into and receiving ultrasonic signals from the channel. The flowmeter includes acoustic isolators which acoustically isolate the housings from the container. The flowmeter includes a controller in electrical communication with the plurality of transducers which determines the gas flow rate through the channel by measuring transit times of signals transmitted by and received by the transducers. A method.

Abstract: An ultrasonic flowmeter includes a meter body including a flow passage having wetted surfaces through which fluid flow is to be measured. The flowmeter includes a non-stick coating adhered to the wetted surfaces of the meter body. The flowmeter includes a first transducer and at least a second transducer arranged around the flow passage to transmit and receive ultrasonic energy. The flowmeter includes an electronic unit designed to generate and receive electronic signals from the transducers and to process the signals in order to compute information related to the fluid flow rate through the passage. A method for measuring fluid flow with an ultrasonic flowmeter. A method of making an ultrasonic flowmeter.

Abstract: A flowmeter for detecting gas flow rates in a pipe includes a container configured to be attached to the pipe having a channel through which the gas flows, and a plurality of recesses that extend through the container and a plurality of housings. The flowmeter includes a plurality of transducers, with one transducer of the plurality of transducers disposed in each recess. The transducers transmit ultrasonic signals into and receive ultrasonic signals from the channel. The flowmeter includes a controller in electrical communication with the plurality of transducers which determines the gas flow rate through the channel by measuring transit times of signals transmitted by and received by the transducers. A housing for an ultrasonic transducer for a flowmeter which is inserted into a recess of a container that acoustically isolates the housing from the container. A method for detecting gas flow rates in a pipe.

Abstract: A flowmeter for detecting gas flow rates in a pipe including a container configured to be attached to the pipe having a channel through which the gas flows, and a plurality of recesses that extend through the container and a plurality of housings. Each recess having one housing of the plurality of housings. Each housing having a pressure containing window. The flowmeter includes a plurality of transducers, with one transducer of the plurality of transducers disposed in each housing in each recess. The transducers transmitting ultrasonic signals through the windows into and receiving ultrasonic signals through the windows from the channel. The flowmeter includes acoustic isolators disposed about the housing along the housing's length and between the housings and the container which acoustically isolate the housings from the container.

Abstract: An ultrasonic flowmeter includes a meter body including a flow passage having wetted surfaces through which fluid flow is to be measured. The flowmeter includes a non-stick coating adhered to the wetted surfaces of the meter body. The flowmeter includes a first transducer and at least a second transducer arranged around the flow passage to transmit and receive ultrasonic energy. The flowmeter includes an electronic unit designed to generate and receive electronic signals from the transducers and to process the signals in order to compute information related to the fluid flow rate through the passage. A method for measuring fluid flow with an ultrasonic flowmeter. A method of making an ultrasonic flowmeter.

Abstract: An ultrasonic flowmeter includes a meter body including a flow passage having wetted surfaces through which fluid flow is to be measured. The flowmeter includes a non-stick coating adhered to the wetted surfaces of the meter body. The flowmeter includes a first transducer and at least a second transducer arranged around the flow passage to transmit and receive ultrasonic energy. The flowmeter includes an electronic unit designed to generate and receive electronic signals from the transducers and to process the signals in order to compute information related to the fluid flow rate through the passage. A method for measuring fluid flow with an ultrasonic flowmeter. A method of making an ultrasonic flowmeter.

Abstract: A flowmeter for detecting gas flow rates in a pipe includes a container configured to be attached to the pipe having a channel through which the gas flows, and a plurality of recesses that extend through the container and a plurality of housings. The flowmeter includes a plurality of transducers, with one transducer of the plurality of transducers disposed in each recess. The transducers transmit ultrasonic signals into and receive ultrasonic signals from the channel. The flowmeter includes a controller in electrical communication with the plurality of transducers which determines the gas flow rate through the channel by measuring transit times of signals transmitted by and received by the transducers. A housing for an ultrasonic transducer for a flowmeter which is inserted into a recess of a container that acoustically isolates the housing from the container. A method for detecting gas flow rates in a pipe.

Abstract: An ultrasonic flowmeter includes a meter body including a flow passage having wetted surfaces through which fluid flow is to be measured. The flowmeter includes a non-stick coating adhered to the wetted surfaces of the meter body. The flowmeter includes a first transducer and at least a second transducer arranged around the flow passage to transmit and receive ultrasonic energy. The flowmeter includes an electronic unit designed to generate and receive electronic signals from the transducers and to process the signals in order to compute information related to the fluid flow rate through the passage. A method for measuring fluid flow with an ultrasonic flowmeter. A method of making an ultrasonic flowmeter.

Abstract: A flowmeter for detecting gas flow rates in a pipe includes a container configured to be attached to the pipe having a channel through which the gas flows, and a plurality of recesses. Each recess has a window made of metal. The flowmeter includes a plurality of transducers, with one transducer of the plurality of transducers disposed in each recess. The flowmeter includes a controller which determines the gas flow rate through the channel.

Abstract: A flowmeter for detecting gas flow rates in a pipe includes a container configured to be attached to the pipe having a channel through which the gas flows, and a plurality of recesses that extend through the container and a plurality of housings. Each recess has a housing which contains pressure in the channel. Each housing has a window that is in acoustic communication with the channel. The flowmeter includes a plurality of transducers, with one transducer of the plurality of transducers disposed in each recess. The transducers transmit ultrasonic signals into and receive ultrasonic signals from the channel through the window in the housing in which a transducer is disposed. The flowmeter includes a controller in electrical communication with the plurality of transducers which determines the gas flow rate through the channel by measuring transit times of signals transmitted by and received by the transducers.

Abstract: A flowmeter for detecting gas flow rates in a pipe. The flowmeter includes a container configured to be attached to the pipe having a channel through which the gas flows, and a plurality of recesses. Each recess has a window made of metal that is in acoustic communication with the channel. The flowmeter includes a plurality of transducers, with one transducer of the plurality of transducers disposed in each recess. The transducers transmit ultrasonic signals into and receive ultrasonic signals from the channel through the window in the housing recess in which a transducer is disposed. The flowmeter includes a controller in electrical communication with the plurality of transducers which determines the gas flow rate through the channel from signals received from the transducers. A housing for an ultrasonic transducer for a flowmeter which is inserted into a recess of a container. A method for detecting gas flow rates in a pipe. A transducer for an ultrasonic flowmeter.

Abstract: A flowmeter for detecting gas flow rates in a pipe includes a container configured to be attached to the pipe having a channel through which the gas flows, and a plurality of recesses that extend through the container and a plurality of housings. Each recess has a housing which contains pressure in the channel. Each housing has a window that is in acoustic communication with the channel. The flowmeter includes a plurality of transducers, with one transducer of the plurality of transducers disposed in each recess. The transducers transmit ultrasonic signals into and receive ultrasonic signals from the channel through the window in the housing in which a transducer is disposed. The flowmeter includes a controller in electrical communication with the plurality of transducers which determines the gas flow rate through the channel by measuring transit times of signals transmitted by and received by the transducers.

Abstract: A meter proving method and system. At lease some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising establishing a prover time by a prover device, measuring a flow rate of a fluid with a flow meter that uses multiple measurements taken over a period of time to produce each individual flow rate value (the flow meter electrically coupled to the prover device), and generating a meter volume over the prover time based on the flow rate. The generating the meter volume based on the flow rate does not involve: generating a pulse train output signal by the flow meter; and generating the meter volume based on an attribute of the pulse train.

Abstract: A meter proving method and system. At lease some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising establishing a prover time by a prover device, measuring a flow rate of a fluid with a flow meter that uses multiple measurements taken over a period of time to produce each individual flow rate value (the flow meter electrically coupled to the prover device), and generating a meter volume over the prover time based on the flow rate. The generating the meter volume based on the flow rate does not involve: generating a pulse train output signal by the flow meter; and generating the meter volume based on an attribute of the pulse train.

Abstract: A meter proving method and system. At lease some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising establishing a prover time by a prover device, measuring a flow rate of a fluid with a flow meter that uses multiple measurements taken over a period of time to produce each individual flow rate value (the flow meter electrically coupled to the prover device), and generating a meter volume over the prover time based on the flow rate. The generating the meter volume based on the flow rate does not involve: generating a pulse train output signal by the flow meter; and generating the meter volume based on an attribute of the pulse train.

Abstract: Methods and related systems for determining transducer delay time and transducer separation in ultrasonic flow meters. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are a method comprising measuring a delay time for a first transducer pair, measuring a total measured time for ultrasonic signals transmitted between a second transducer pair in an ultrasonic meter in which both the first and second transducer pairs are installed, calculating a parameter associated with the second transducer pair using the delay time of the first transducer pair and the total measured time for said second transducer pair.

Abstract: A method and related ultrasonic meter identify and correct for transit time errors such as peak switch errors. The method includes calculating values for a set of diagnostics from measurements of the fluid flow, including transit time measurements. Based on the values for the diagnostics, and whether and how they fall outside of their respective ranges, the meter can identify a variety of problems with the meter or fluid flow, such as whether there has been an intermittent peak switch, a permanent peak switch, or the presence of noise, velocity pulsation in the fluid flow, temperature stratification, of other problem. In the event there is a problem with the meter, the meter self-tunes in order to minimize the chances of the problem happening again.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a bi-directional dual chamber orifice fitting comprising a body with a chamber in fluid communication with a flow bore. The fitting also comprises an orifice supported by an orifice plate carrier that is selectably disposable in the bore. In the preferred embodiment, the lower chamber includes two passageways connecting the chamber to the flow bore. One passageway is located on either side of the orifice plate. Each passageway may also be equipped with a check valve to permit flow in only one direction through the passageway. In operation, the passageway on the upstream side of the orifice would allow fluid to flow into the lower chamber while the passageway on the downstream side would prevent flow back into the flow bore.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for operating an ultrasonic flow meter to accurately estimate the average flow velocity in a pipe when the meter has at least one failed chord and one non-failed chord. The method partitions the velocity range into a number of consecutive, non-overlapping “bins,” where separate bins are maintained for each chord and each flow direction. Each bin stores a chord proportion value and, in some embodiments, a chord velocity value. The bins are initialized with pre-selected values and, during normal operation, updated, or trained, based on the measured velocities. When a chord fails, and there is at least one non-failed chord, an estimated proportion value for each non-failed chord is generated using the values stored in the bins. The estimated average flow velocity is then calculated by dividing the summation of the measured flow velocities, from the non-failed chords, by the summation of the estimated proportions.

Abstract: A method is disclosed to identify peak switching errors in an ultrasonic meter and how to correct for them. The method compares transit time measurements from two chords having different lengths to establish an error value. Depending on the magnitude and sign of the error value, any peak switching error can be identified and consequently corrected.