Flow measurement and control with bubble detection

A method of controlling the flow rate of a liquid through a flow conduit coupled to a controllable valve and a liquid flow sensor, liquid flow sensor including a sensor conduit and the liquid including a plurality of bubbles formed therein, the method comprising acts of:

• repeatedly sensing a flow signal indicative of the flow rate of the liquid flowing in the sensor conduit;
• determining, based upon at least one parameter of the flow signal, whether at least one bubble is disposed in the liquid within the sensor conduit;
• providing, in response to a determination that no bubble is disposed in the liquid within the sensor conduit, control parameters for the controllable valve based upon the most recently sensed flow signal;
• providing, in response to a determination that the at least one bubble is disposed in the liquid within the sensor conduit, control parameters for the controllable valve based upon other than the most recently sensed flow signal;
• and
• controlling the controllable valve according to the control parameters.

A system for measuring a flow rate of a liquid flowing in a flow conduit, the liquid including a plurality of bubbles formed therein, the system comprising:

• a liquid flow sensor including a sensor conduit fluidly coupled to the flow conduit, the liquid flow sensor being configured to sense a flow rate of the liquid flowing in the sensor conduit and provide a flow signal indicative of the flow rate of the liquid flowing in the sensor conduit;
• a bubble detection module, coupled to the liquid flow sensor, to receive the flow signal and determine, based upon at least one parameter of the flow signal, whether at least one bubble is disposed in the liquid within the sensor conduit, the bubble detection module being configured to:
• provide, in response to a determination that no bubble is disposed in the liquid within the sensor conduit, a flow rate signal indicative of the flow rate of the liquid flowing in the liquid flow sensor based upon a most recently sensed flow signal, and
• provide, in response to a determination that the at least one bubble is disposed in the liquid within the sensor conduit, at least one of:
• a) a flow rate signal based upon the most recently sensed flow signal and an alert signal indicative of a presence of the at least one bubble, and
• b) a flow rate signal indicative of the flow rate of the liquid flowing in the liquid flow sensor based upon other than the most recently sensed flow signal.