Automated adjustable geared orifice flow meter

A variable orifice flow meter system, comprising:

• a housing defining a flow passage therethrough;
• at least one plate extendable into the flow passage and thereby defining an orifice within the flow passage, the at least one plate being movably supported with respect to the housing such that a size of the orifice is adjusted by moving the at least one plate;
• an upstream pressure sensor operable to measure an upstream fluid pressure in the flow passage upstream of the orifice;
• a downstream pressure sensor operable to measure a downstream fluid pressure in the flow passage downstream of the orifice;
• a drive mechanism operably coupled to the at least one plate to move the at least one plate with respect to the housing;
• and
• a controller operably coupled to the upstream pressure sensor, the downstream pressure sensor and the drive mechanism, the controller being operable to:
• instruct the drive mechanism to move the at least one the plate such that a predetermined orifice size is defined in response to detecting an upstream pressure reading from the upstream pressure sensor within a predetermined pressure range,
• determine a pressure differential across the orifice with the upstream pressure sensor and the downstream pressure sensor, and
• calculate a flow rate through the flow passage based on the pressure differential when the pressure differential meets a predetermined threshold.