Time-accurate CFD enhanced interpretation of strain-based flow measurement

A system for measuring a velocity or volumetric fluid flow rate of a fluid flow passing within a pipe, comprising:

• a SONAR flow meter configured to determine a measured velocity or volumetric rate of a fluid flow passing within a pipe, wherein the determination includes measuring unsteady pressures relating to convective flow disturbances to determine a measured characteristic velocity of the convective flow disturbances;
• a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis device configured to produce a simulated velocity or volumetric rate of the fluid flow passing within the pipe, including a simulated characteristic velocity of the convective flow disturbances;
• and
• a processing unit in communication with the CFD analysis device and the SONAR flow meter, the processing unit configured to produce at least one error function based on the measured velocity or volumetric fluid flow rate and the simulated velocity or volumetric fluid flow rate, including a difference between the measured characteristic velocity and the simulated characteristic velocity, and configured to determine an adjusted velocity or volumetric fluid flow rate using the at least one error function and the measured velocity or volumetric fluid flow rate, and configured to adjust a magnitude of the at least one error function to decrease the difference between the measured characteristic velocity and the simulated characteristic velocity.