Flow measurement probe

A method for measuring reactor coolant water flow in a water cooled nuclear reactor system that includes a pipe extending into a nuclear reactor vessel from a coolant water source, comprising the steps of:

• providing a probe characterized by a probe body that includes a peripheral wall, an end wall at a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a common dynamic pressure tap in the peripheral wall, dynamic pressure channel means for operably connecting the common dynamic pressure tap with a first input of each of a plurality of differential pressure transmitters, a plurality of static pressure taps, each substantially angled away from the direction of the dynamic pressure tap, and a plurality of static pressure channel means each for operatively connecting one of the plurality of static pressure taps to a second input of a separate one of the transmitters;
• mounting the probe body in the pipe such that the common dynamic pressure tap and the plurality of static pressure taps are interior the pipe, the second end is exterior the pipe and the common dynamic pressure tap is oriented about into the direction of flow of coolant water;
• operatively connecting the common dynamic pressure tap to the transmitters with the first channel means;
• operatively connecting each of the static pressure taps to a separate one the transmitters with the second channel means;
• then flowing the coolant water in the pipe at a first time;
• then sensing a differential pressure with each of the transmitters;
• and
• providing from each of the transmitters a differential pressure signal indicative of the differential pressure at the first time.