Open channel flow meter
AssigneeFloWav, Inc.
InventorsJOHN BYRD, DONALD R. SAUER, BRUCE COHEN
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Abstract
The open channel flow meter of the present invention uses a progressive spectral analyzer to increase the efficiency and accuracy thereof. This is accomplished by using a smaller degree fast Fourier transform covering small sections of the span of the sensor. Additional sections of the span are added to the analysis as required to cover the desired velocity range. This approach also allows one to bypass the processing of velocity spans outside the actual site conditions. This allows circuitry which costs less, uses less power, and achieves more precise readings in a shorter time period.
Claims7
A meter for measuring the velocity of liquid flowing in a moving stream comprising:
- means for transmitting a signal beam of acoustic signal of a selected frequency into the liquid flowing in the stream;
- means for detecting acoustic signals reflected by particles moving with the liquid in the stream;
- means for creating a mixed signal from said selected frequency and said detected signals;
- means for determining the Doppler frequency shifts of the reflected signal by particles moving with the liquid in the stream versus the transmitted signal;
- means for producing a spectrum of amplitude versus Doppler frequency;
- means for determining the average velocity of particles of the liquid from the spectrum of the amplitude versus Doppler frequencies.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.