Proportional flow comparative metering

A method of measuring fluid flow in a proportional flow device through which a flow of fluid is divided between at least two flow channels, the method comprising:

• disposing a measurement device in a first channel of a proportional flow device;
• disposing a first flow comparison sensor in the first channel of the proportional flow device;
• disposing a second flow comparison sensor in a second channel of the proportional flow device, the second channel acting as a bypass channel, and the first and second channels sharing an input;
• obtaining a first measurement from the measurement device in the first channel through which a first portion of a fluid is flowing, the first measurement representative of a flow volume amount of the fluid flowing through the first channel;
• obtaining a second measurement from the first flow comparison sensor in the first channel, the second measurement representative of a first comparison flow volume amount of the fluid flowing through the first channel;
• obtaining a third measurement from the second flow comparison sensor in the second channel through which a second portion of the fluid is flowing, the third measurement representative of a second comparison flow volume amount of the fluid flowing through the second channel;
• determining a ratio of the third measurement to the second measurement;
• and
• determining a total flow volume of the fluid based on the first measurement and the determined ratio.

A proportional flow device for measuring fluid volume flow, comprising:

• a measurement channel, the measurement channel including:
• a measurement device configured to obtain a primary measurement representative of a primary flow volume amount of a first portion of a fluid flowing through the measurement channel;
• and
• a first flow comparison sensor configured to sense a first comparison measurement representative of a first comparison flow volume amount of the first portion of the fluid flowing through the measurement channel;
• and
• a bypass channel, the bypass channel including a second flow comparison sensor configured to sense a second comparison measurement representative of a second comparison flow volume amount of a second portion of the fluid flowing through the bypass channel,
• wherein a total flow volume amount of the fluid flowing collectively through the measurement channel and the bypass channel is determinable based on the primary measurement and a ratio of the second comparison measurement to the first comparison measurement.

A method of measuring fluid flow in a proportional flow device through which a flow of fluid is divided among at least two flow channels, the method comprising:

• disposing a measurement device in a first channel of a proportional flow device;
• disposing a first flow comparison sensor in the first channel of the proportional flow device;
• disposing one or more additional flow comparison sensors in one or more respective additional channels of the proportional flow device, the additional channels acting as bypass channels in the proportional flow device, the first channel and the additional channels sharing an input;
• obtaining a first measurement from the measurement device in the first channel through which a first portion of a fluid is flowing, the first measurement representative of a flow volume amount of the fluid flowing through the first channel;
• obtaining a second measurement from the first flow comparison sensor in the first channel, the second measurement representative of a first comparison flow volume amount of the fluid flowing through the first channel;
• obtaining one or more third measurements from respective ones of the additional flow comparison sensors each disposed in its respective additional channel through which a respective additional portion of the fluid is flowing, each of the one or more third measurements representative of a respective comparison flow volume amount of the fluid flowing through its respective additional channel;
• determining respective ratios of each of the third measurements to the second measurement;
• and
• determining a total flow volume of the fluid based on the first measurement and the determined respective ratios.