Abstract: A miniaturized, inexpensive flowmeter capable of accurately measuring a flow rate comprises a flow rate detector including a plurality of thermal type flow rate detector elements mounted on a support plate, a power source for applying power to the flow rate detector, and a signal processor for calculating the flow rate from supplied power.

Abstract: A device for monitoring the flow rate of a liquid has an impeller with a plurality of blades arranged within a duct wherein the liquid flows, and a sensor able to detect the rotation of the impeller. A variable distributor is mounted in the duct for modifying the ratio between the number of revolutions of the impeller and the rate liquid flow in the duct in order to control the resolution of the device.

Abstract: A signal processing apparatus and method for measuring a mass flow rate of a fluid flowing in conjunction with a surface of a Coriolis mass flow meter and a field-provable Coriolis mass flow meter. The apparatus includes: (1) a driver for creating a prescribed vibration in the surface, (2) a motion sensor for measuring a motion of the surface, (3) response characteristic determination circuitry, coupled to the motion sensor, for determining a response characteristic of the surface and (4) flow rate calculation circuitry, coupled to the response characteristic determination circuitry, for calculating a measured mass flow rate of the fluid as a function of the motion and the response characteristic. The field-provable meter employs the response characteristic to monitor or compare meter performance without requiring a separate proving device.

Abstract: A magnetic flowmeter has a tube for supporting fluid flow and a circuit for indicating when the tube is empty. The circuit includes an amplifier connected to two electrodes in the tube and a variable resistor. The amplifier produces an oscillating signal when the tube is empty.The circuit is calibrated for a particular fluid by finding a range of resistances for the variable resistor at which the circuit provides an accurate indication that the tube is empty, and storing information in the processor indicating a resistance in the range for the fluid.

Abstract: The invention is an apparatus and a method for characterizing the flow of a multi-phase fluid. The apparatus is comprised of: a conduit having a first end and a second end, for flowing the fluid from the first to the second ends, and a first point and a second point located between the first and second ends; a mixer for mixing the fluid as it flows from the first to the second ends such that the fluid is substantially homogeneous at the first point and such that the substantial homogeneity of the fluid is maintained between the first and second points; and means for determining at least one of a volumetric flow rate of the substantially homogeneous fluid at a first location in the conduit between the first and second points and a density of the substantially homogeneous fluid at a second location between the first and second points.

Abstract: A pulse-like heating is applied to a thin-film material having a high thermal conductivity such as a diamond thin film so that a response characteristic at this time is measured as a change in temperature of the thin film. The response characteristic reflects the thermal influence of the circumstance on the thin-film material, and depends, for example, on the flow rate of fluid. At this time, a sensor for obtaining an output depending on the fluid and the temperature of the fluid and a sensor for obtaining an output corresponding to the temperature of fluid are prepared to compare and process both the output with the result of obtaining an output which reflects the flow rate with accuracy not depending on the temperature.

Abstract: A temperature detecting apparatus includes a support member made of resin and disposed in an air passage, a temperature sensor supported within the support member, and a pair of conductive members made of metal and embedded in the support member. The support member includes a surface in parallel with the intake air flow. The pair of conductive members are electrically connected to the temperature sensor. An extrusion portion is formed on the support member so as to extend along the intake air flow, and accommodates the temperature sensor at an upstream side thereof and the pair of conductive members. The conductive member includes a first extending portion extending within the extrusion portion along the air flow and a second extending portion extending from the first extending portion into the support member.

Abstract: A fluid flow measurement assembly is shown and described. In a preferred embodiment, a flow conditioning section comprised of straightening vanes and a diffuser, as well as temperature probes, pressure transducers, and a metering assembly, are all provided in an integral housing. The assembly is provided with different sized flanges on an inlet orifice and an exit orifice, such that the assembly may be installed in a fluid line in only one direction, thereby preventing incorrect installation.The flow conditioning section is comprised of a diffuser and straightening vanes, and serves to ensure that fluid flowing through the measurement assembly is uniformly scrambled and then normalized, such that the metering assembly will be substantially insensitive to upstream flow disturbances and will provide accurate and repeatable fluid flow measurements.The metering assembly is comprised of two counter-rotating turbines, a pickoff device or pulse detector being provided for each turbine.

Abstract: In the particular embodiments described in the specification, the velocity of a flowing liquid is measured by emitting acoustic signals from an acoustic signal unit into the flowing liquid and detecting signals reflected from solid particles moving with the liquid and a Fast Fourier Transform is performed on the Doppler frequency signals to produce a power signal spectrum. The resolution of the power signal spectrum is expanded at the high frequency end by taking the square root of the power signals and a least squares curve fitter produces a trend line from the data points at the upper end of the spectrum. The trend line is extrapolated to the zero amplitude axis to produce a signal representing the maximum velocity of the flowing liquid and an algorithm based on the shape of the conduit through which the liquid is flowing is used to produce a signal representing the average velocity of the liquid.

Abstract: A process for monitoring the flow of flowing media, especially for acquiring the heat transport capacity of the flowing medium, in which a measurement signal of a temperature measurement element influenced by at least one heating element and the medium flowing past it is monitored and in which an output signal is generated when the measurement signal of the temperature measurement element exceeds or falls below a switching point. A reduction of the reaction time of the process for monitoring the flow of flowing media is guaranteed by the heat output of the heating element and/or the location of the switching point changing as a function of the output signal.

Abstract: A vortex fluid meter (1) includes a pipe (2) having a maximum inside diameter D in which the fluid flows and having an internal profile comprising from the upstream end to the downstream end: a first pipe portion (4) progressively reducing the inside diameter of said pipe to a value D1 and having an inside wall (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) at a continuously varying angle to the general direction of flow of the fluid; a second pipe portion (6) of constant diameter D1 in which is disposed at least one obstacle (8) adapted to generate oscillating fluid vortices; and a third pipe portion (20) returning the inside diameter of the pipe (2) to its original value D and adapted to separate the boundary layer of the fluid flow at a downstream end (6a) of said second pipe portion (6), and means (10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 200-221) for detecting the signal corresponding to the oscillations of the vortices and deducing the volume of fluid therefrom.

Abstract: A fluid pressure and temperature sensing probe assembly for a mass flow measurement system comprising, a tubular body, a portion of which is adapted for insertion into the fluid flowing in a confined conduit, and having, within the body, a pair of separated plenums. Openings are provided in the tubular body which expose the respective plenums to high and low fluid pressures in the fluid flow. An electrically responsive temperature sensor, having an electrical signal output, is disposed within the tubular body of the probe. A pressure transducer, in fluid communication with the plenums, converts the fluid pressures in the plenums to at least one electrical signal representative of the difference between the high and low fluid pressures. A transmitter transmits the electrical signal from the pressure transducer and the electrical temperature signal to a remote location.

Abstract: A mass flow meter provides improved accuracy in measuring the mass flow rate of a fluid flowing through a straight measuring tube. The as measured mass flow rate value is changed by parameters such as the Young's modules, second moment of area, length, axial force, etc. of the measuring tube. The parameters change with the strain caused in the axial direction of the measuring tube. A strain sensor is installed on a measuring tube, and the as measured mass flow rate is corrected based on the output of the strain sensor. Since the strain affects in a different way the substantial mass flow rate and the zero point offset, the correction is conducted separately on the substantial mass flow rate and on the zero point offset so that the accuracy of measurement may be improved. Since the parameters change also with the temperature of the measuring tube, a temperature sensor is also installed on the measuring tube so that the accuracy of measurement may be further improved.

Abstract: A device for determining at least one parameter characteristic of a fluid with a variable density and at least one phase having different density values is disclosed. A process of measuring the density of a multi-phase petroleum effluent. A parameter associated with a fluid of variable density is determined by measuring the value by which a flexible element in contact with the fluid is deformed.

Abstract: A method of visually indicating the number of chemicals and particulates processed by a filter element through which a fluid stream has flowed includes providing a volume meter to indicate when a volume of fluid has passed therethrough to indicate the ability of the filter element to reduce chemicals in the fluid stream, providing a flow rate meter to remove particulates, and positioning the volume meter upstream of the flow rate meter so that the volume meter delivers fluid to the flow rate meter which provides a visual indication as to whether the filter element is losing chemical reduction capacity or is clogged.

Abstract: A fluid flowmeter comprises a frame having a cavity that is open to one side thereof for the acceptance of a laminar flow module and open to the other side for the acceptance of sensing electronics that measure pressure drop across the module. The module comprises a plurality of plates that are spaced apart by wires and bound to one another to form a unitary assembly that facilitates exchange and replacement.

Abstract: A flow meter is adapted to measure the flow rate of a fluid flowing in the interior of a sensing conduit. The flow meter includes one sensor element disposed along the flow path of the fluid externally of the sensing conduit closer to one fluid flow port of the conduit, another sensor element disposed along the flow path of the fluid externally of the sensing conduit closer to the other fluid flow port of the conduit, an elongated structure disposed along the flow path of the fluid internally of the sensing conduit and away from the two sensor elements for reducing the fluid flow space in the sensing conduit, apparatus for heating the sensor elements, and apparatus for detecting a temperature differential between the sensor elements. The elongated structure has an end that engages the sensing conduit at a fluid flow port. The elongated structure may be a wire that is pre-bent or straight prior to its insertion into the sensing conduit, or may be a tube.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for linearizing a flow velocity sensor based on pressure difference measurement. According to the method, a difference of two pressure signals is measured from the flow under measurement and is proportional to the square of the flow velocity. The pressure difference is measured using a micromechanically manufactured symmetrical capacitive differential pressure sensor based on the force balance principle. The pressure-induced deviation from force balance is compensated for by inducing on the pressure-sensing diaphragm of the differential pressure sensor a force-balance-restoring electrostatic pressure. The amplitude of the force-balance-restoring electrical feedback control signal also acts as the system output signal and is directly proportional to the square root of the difference of the two pressure signals, and thus, a linear function of the flow velocity.

Abstract: An improved ultrasonic vortex fluid flowmeter (10) includes a sensor housing (12) having a slip-on yoke portion which removably mates with a bluff body conduit connector (14) permanently installed in a fluid conduit to be monitored. An ultrasonic transmitter (22) and receiver (24) are respectively positioned within the legs of the yoke so as pass an ultrasonic wave through vortices (42) shed by the fluid as it flows by a bluff body (36). The slip-on yoke eliminates both the need to shut down fluid flow during meter servicing, and the potential for external contaminants entering the fluid. Control and processing circuitry (100) is disposed within a remotely located circuit housing (38) to improve overall isolation of the sensor from the fluid conduit being monitored. An Exclusive Or gate (44) is used in combination with an optimal phase range detecting means (108) for triggering a 90 degree phase shift whenever the phase difference between the transmitted wave and the received wave approaches 0 or 180 degrees.

Abstract: A meter for flowing media, which preferably operates according to the Coriolis principle, with at least one conduit conducting the flowing medium, with at least one oscillation generator acting on the conduit, and with at least one transducer detecting preferably Coriolis forces and/or Coriolis oscillations based on Coriolis effects. With the transducer described, an electric current flows through at least a section of the conduit and/or the flowing medium.