Patent ID: 6629467
Filing Date: 2003-10-07
Classification: G01F

Abstract:
A method for determining a flow rate of a fluid flowing in a channel, the fluid being constituted by a liquid or a gas, comprising the steps of:sending from signal generators two pulse shaped, oscillating signals through the fluid at substantially the same time with one signal directed against a flow direction of the fluid and the other signal directed with the flow direction of the fluid; receiving the two pulse shaped, oscillating signals; switching the signal generators to signal receivers before the two pulse shaped, oscillating signals are received by the signal receivers, wherein the signal generators are positioned towards each other at a distance in the flow direction of the fluid; determining a phase shift by instantaneous phase shift measurement between the two pulse shaped, oscillating signals caused by the flow of the fluid upon receiving; measuring the dwell time of at least one of the two pulse shaped, oscillating signals; and determining the flow rate from the measured phase shift while compensating for the dwell time of the at least one of the two pulsed shaped, oscillating signals in the fluid.