Abstract: A method for measuring the flow rate of a fluid using a differential pressure sensor is presented. In this method, two pitot tubes are positioned within in flowing fluid, creating a pressure differential that is converted to a voltage by a differential pressure sensor. The voltage is transmitted to a programmable microcontroller for computation of flow rate based on a calibration procedure that was been used to determine the relationship between voltage and flow rate. The microcontroller may also be used to correct for temperature variations, store fluid flow rates, calculate the total volume of fluid that has passed, transmit data, display data, modify the fluid flow, or automatically run a calibration routine.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring pressure differential including a first pitot tube, a second pitot tube, a pressure sensor, a low pass filter, a microcontroller, and a control system is presented. A first and second pitot tube are positioned in flowing fluid, creating positive pressure and negative pressure in the pitot tubes that may be transmitted to a pressure sensor. The positive and negative pressure may create a pressure differential in the pressure sensor measured as voltage. Voltage from the pressure sensor may be transmitted to a microcontroller which may be calibrated to a standard flow meter to fit a curve of the voltage in relation to the flow rate, enabling the fluid flow rate through the pipeline to be measured. The microcontroller may be used to store fluid flow rates or to further calculate volume of fluid flowing through a pipeline and may transmit data to a control system which may be used to program the microcontroller or may be used to display collected fluid flow rate and volume data.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an apparatus having a tube with an ingress opening to receive a liquid, and an egress opening to release the liquid, a conductor positioned in a conduit of the tube, the conductor and the conduit having dimensions to cause a surface tension of the liquid to prevent a constant flow of the liquid from the egress opening, and a power supply coupled to the conductor to apply a charge to the liquid to overcome the surface tension and form at the egress opening a single jet stream of the liquid applicable on a substrate to create a pattern. The single jet stream can be controllable in part by a viscosity of the liquid. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an apparatus having a tube with an ingress opening to receive a liquid, and an egress opening to release the liquid, a conductor positioned in a conduit of the tube, the conductor and the conduit having dimensions to cause a surface tension of the liquid to prevent a constant flow of the liquid from the egress opening, and a power supply coupled to the conductor to apply a charge to the liquid to overcome the surface tension and form at the egress opening a single jet stream of the liquid applicable on a substrate to create a pattern. The single jet stream can be controllable in part by a viscosity of the liquid. Additional embodiments are disclosed.