Patent ID: 7614297

Claim:
A multi-vortex flowmeter for measuring a flow rate of a fluid, the flowmeter comprising: a vortex-type detection unit including: a measurement tube to be inserted in a flow passage of a flow tube, for allowing passage of the fluid therethrough; a vortex generator disposed in the measurement tube to oppose a flow of the fluid; and a vortex detector for detecting a change based on a Karman vortex generated by the vortex generator; a thermal-type detection unit including a temperature sensor and a heating sensor disposed at opposing side walls of the vortex-type detection unit, such that the temperature sensor and the heating sensor protrude into the flow passage at opposing sides of the measurement tube, and such that the temperature sensor and the heating sensor obtain temperature measurements of the fluid at different locations within the measurement tube; and a flow rate converter configured to: control an amount of power supplied to heat the heating sensor so as to maintain a constant temperature difference between the temperature sensor and the heating sensor; calculate the flow rate of the fluid based on the amount of power supplied to the heating sensor; and calculate the flow rate of the fluid based on the change detected by the vortex detector.