Vortex shedding flowmeter
US4706502A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 27, 1986 |
| Grant date | Nov 17, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 27, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01F1/325
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A flowmeter for measuring the velocity of fluid flow by monitoring the vortex shedding frequency of the fluid flow comprises a single mode optical fibre sensing element (1) for detecting vortex shedding and utilizes interferometric techniques for producing an electrical output signal corresponding to the vortex shedding frequency. The sensing element (1) comprises at least part of the signal arm (2) of an interferometer (3) which also includes means (12) for deriving a reference signal from the illuminating light source (4). The flow induced oscillation of the sensing element (1) caused by vortex shedding produces modulations of the interferometer output which is monitored by a photodetector (14) which, in turn, produces a modulated electrical output signal which can be processed by a signal processing system (16-19) to identify the vortex shedding frequency and, hence, produce a measurement of the flow velocity.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.