Patent ID: 6746606
Filing Date: 2004-06-08
Classification: F04B,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for matching the flow rate of first and second fluid flows in respective, fluidly-unconnected first and second flow paths, wherein the first flow path includes a first flow source which includes a positive displacement pump having a controllable pump speed, wherein the second flow path includes a second flow source and a flow-rate transducer, and wherein the method comprises the steps of:a) shutting off the second flow source; b) fluidly interconnecting the first and second flow paths creating an interconnected flow path which allows substantially the same flow from the positive displacement pump of the first flow source to encounter the flow-rate transducer; c) after steps a) and b), obtaining readings from the flow-rate transducer for various values of the pump speed; d) after step c), disconnecting the fluid interconnection between the first and second flow paths; e) turning on the second flow source; f) after steps d) and e), obtaining a reading from the flow-rate transducer; and g) controlling the flow rate of the first fluid flow to match the flow rate of the second fluid flow by controlling the pump speed using the value of the pump speed in step c) which corresponds to the reading of the flow-rate transducer in step c) which substantially matches the reading of the flow-rate transducer in step f).