A device for measuring the flow rate of a fluid, the device comprising: a measure cell having at least one fluid flow inlet and at least one fluid flow outlet, the measure cell comprising a chamber and the at least one fluid flow inlet and the at least one fluid flow outlet arranged such that fluid is able to enter the chamber via the at least one fluid flow inlet and able to exit the chamber via the at least one fluid flow outlet; a measure element arranged in the chamber, which measure element is aligned with said at least one fluid flow inlet and said at least one fluid flow outlet so as to be exposed to heat transfer effects of fluid when fluid is flowing through the chamber; and a reference element arranged in the chamber, which reference element is located in the chamber further away from said at least one fluid flow inlet than said measure element and substantially shielded from the direct flow of fluid flowing through the chamber by the measure element; wherein the measure and reference elements are each provided with heating means, to raise their temperatures relative to fluid flowing through the chamber, or cooling means, to lower their temperatures relative to fluid flowing through the chamber; wherein the measure element and the reference element are arranged in proximity to each other to enable thermal exchange between the measure and reference elements and such that, when the device is in use with fluid flowing through the chamber, fluid in the volume surrounding the reference element is primarily exchanged via diffusion with fluid in the volume surrounding the measure element,such that the measure and reference elements experience an equivalent heat transfer environment other than the heat transfer effects due to fluid flowing through the chamber and heat transfer effects due to thermal exchange between the measure and reference elements; at least one measurement component connected to the measure element and the reference element, for measuring at least one parameter that is indicative of the heat transfer effects of fluid flowing through the chamber; and means for deriving a signal indicative of the fluid flow rate from the at least one measured parameter. a measure cell having at least one fluid flow inlet and at least one fluid flow outlet, the measure cell comprising a chamber and the at least one fluid flow inlet and the at least one fluid flow outlet arranged such that fluid is able to enter the chamber via the at least one fluid flow inlet and able to exit the chamber via the at least one fluid flow outlet; a measure element arranged in the chamber, which measure element is aligned with said at least one fluid flow inlet and said at least one fluid flow outlet so as to be exposed to heat transfer effects of fluid when fluid is flowing through the chamber; and a reference element arranged in the chamber, which reference element is located in the chamber further away from said at least one fluid flow inlet than said measure element and substantially shielded from the direct flow of fluid flowing through the chamber by the measure element; wherein the measure and reference elements are each provided with heating means, to raise their temperatures relative to fluid flowing through the chamber, or cooling means, to lower their temperatures relative to fluid flowing through the chamber; wherein the measure element and the reference element are arranged in proximity to each other to enable thermal exchange between the measure and reference elements and such that, when the device is in use with fluid flowing through the chamber, fluid in the volume surrounding the reference element is primarily exchanged via diffusion with fluid in the volume surrounding the measure element,such that the measure and reference elements experience an equivalent heat transfer environment other than the heat transfer effects due to fluid flowing through the chamber and heat transfer effects due to thermal exchange between the measure and reference elements; at least one measurement component connected to the measure element and the reference element, for measuring at least one parameter that is indicative of the heat transfer effects of fluid flowing through the chamber; and means for deriving a signal indicative of the fluid flow rate from the at least one measured parameter.