Patent · US Expired

Open channel flowmeter utilizing surface velocity and lookdown level devices

US5811688A · kind A · utility

65Cited by
7References
47Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 22, 1997
Grant dateSep 22, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 22, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01P5/241
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A flowmeter utilizing velocity at the surface of a fluid and lookdown level sensors is mounted within a manhole without requiring entry into the manhole by the installer. The velocity and level sensors generate first and second energy signal beams which are directed toward the same vicinity of the fluid surface which reflects the beams back to the sensors surface velocity signal representative of the velocity of scatters on the fluid surface is produced from the Doppler frequency shift between the directed and reflected first beam. This signal is modified to produce a mean velocity signal. A level signal is produced by determining the air space between the sensor and the fluid surface from the directed and reflected second beam and relating changes in the air space to changes in fluid level in accordance with the configuration of the pipe. Fluid flow can be calculated from the mean velocity and fluid level signals.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.