Flow analysis system and method
US5741980A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 16, 1997 |
| Grant date | Apr 21, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 16, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2291/0423
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A non-invasive flow analysis system and method wherein a sensor, such as an acoustic sensor, is coupled to a conduit for transmitting a signal which varies depending on the characteristics of the flow in the conduit. The signal is amplified and there is a filter, responsive to the sensor signal, and tuned to pass a narrow band of frequencies proximate the resonant frequency of the sensor. A demodulator generates an amplitude envelope of the filtered signal and a number of flow indicator quantities are calculated based on variations in amplitude of the amplitude envelope. A neural network, or its equivalent, is then used to determine the flow rate of the flow in the conduit based on the flow indicator quantities.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.