Capacitance flow meter

Abstract

A multi-electrode capacitive apparatus for measuring multi-phase flows comprising a pipe through which the flow is directed having the electrodes, typically ten in number, disposed around an outer surface thereof, sensing means being provided for connection to each electrode by means of a switching arrangement, the switching arrangement being operable to vary the connections of the electrodes to the sensing means such that the electric field seen within the pipe rotates; averaging means being provided to determine the average capacitance measured over an integer number of rotations. The pipe can be formed from a material having substantially the same dielectric constant as the flowing material and is of sufficient thickness to optimise the angular sensitivity of the device for flow at the pipe wall. Typically, the internal radius of the pipe is about 0.7 of the radius of the electrode arrangement.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.