Abstract: At least one parameter of at least one fluid in a pipe 12 is measured using a spatial array of acoustic pressure sensors 14,16,18 placed at predetermined axial locations x1,x2,x3 along the pipe 12. The pressure sensors 14,16,18 provide acoustic pressure signals P1(t), P2(t), P3(t) on lines 20,22,24 which are provided to signal processing logic 60 which determines the speed of sound amix of the fluid (or mixture) in the pipe 12 using acoustic spatial array signal processing techniques with the direction of propagation of the acoustic signals along the longitudinal axis of the pipe 12. Numerous spatial array processing techniques may be employed to determined the speed of sound amix. The speed of sound amix is provided to logic 48 which calculates the percent composition of the mixture, e.g., water fraction, or any other parameter of the mixture or fluid which is related to the sound speed amix. The logic 60 may also determine the Mach number Mx of the fluid.

Abstract: A method and corresponding system for measuring the speed of sound in a fluid contained within an elongated body, the sound traversing the elongated body substantially along a direction aligned with the longest axis of the elongated body, the sound causing a momentary change in pressure in a portion of the fluid as the sound traverses the portion of the fluid, the method including the steps of: providing at predetermined locations an array of at least two sensors distributed along the elongated body, each sensor for discerning and signaling spatio-temporally sampled data including information indicating the pressure of the fluid at the position of the sensor; acquiring the spatio-temporally sampled data from each sensor at each of a number of instants of time; constructing a plot derivable from a plot, using a technique selected from the group consisting of spectral-based algorithms, such as the Capon method or the MUSIC method, in which a spectrum-like function of the speed of sound is formed, and parametric

Abstract: At least one parameter of at least one fluid in a pipe 12 is measured using a spatial array of acoustic pressure sensors 14,16,18 placed at predetermined axial locations x1,x2,x3 along the pipe 12. The pressure sensors 14,16,18 provide acoustic pressure signals P1(t), P2(t), P3(t) on lines 20,22,24 which are provided to signal processing logic 60 which determines the speed of sound amix of the fluid (or mixture) in the pipe 12 using acoustic spatial array signal processing techniques with the direction of propagation of the acoustic signals along the longitudinal axis of the pipe 12. Numerous spatial array processing techniques may be employed to determined the speed of sound amix. The speed of sound amix is provided to logic 48 which calculates the percent composition of the mixture, e.g., water fraction, or any other parameter of the mixture or fluid which is related to the sound speed amix. The logic 60 may also determine the Mach number Mx of the fluid.