Fiber optic liquid mass flow sensor and method

US7738084B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration · US

Inventors

• Valentin Korman · Huntsville, US
• Don A. Gregory · Huntsville, US
• John T. Wiley · Huntsville, US
• Kevin Pedersen · Atco, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 29, 2006
• Grant date: Jun 15, 2010
• Expiry date: Sep 29, 2026

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01F1/7086
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for sensing the mass flow rate of a fluid flowing through a pipe. A light beam containing plural individual wavelengths is projected from one side of the pipe across the width of the pipe so as to pass through the fluid under test. Fiber optic couplers located at least two positions on the opposite side of the pipe are used to detect the light beam. A determination is then made of the relative strengths of the light beam for each wavelength at the at least two positions and based at least in part on these relative strengths, the mass flow rate of the fluid is determined.