Intelligent gas flow measurement and leak detection apparatus

An intelligent gas leak test and gas flow standard apparatus, comprising:

• a) a body having a first end portion and a second end portion and a conical bore therein, said conical bore is larger at said first end portion and smaller at said second end portion, said conical bore providing acceleration/deceleration of said gas flow through said body to establish controlled differential pressure and higher resolution;
• b) a center shaft positioned in said conical bore forming a variable area laminar flow gap bounded by the surface of said conical bore and said center shaft, said laminar flow gap having a width that provides a Reynold number of less than 700;
• c) a precisely machined spacer at said second end portion of said body for linearly positioning said center shaft within said conical bore, said first end portion and said second end portion supporting said center shaft to prevent vertical or rotational movement;
• d) a pressure differential sensor connecting to said laminar flow gap to measure differential pressure at the point in which the laminar flow within said laminar flow gap is the least turbulent to facilitate accuracy and measurement stability;
• e) a temperature sensor for determining the temperature of the gas flowing through said laminar flow gap;
• f) a static pressure sensor for measuring the static pressure in a columnar housing to provide an electrical signal output;
• g) a microcontroller connected to said pressure differential sensor, said temperature means and said static pressure sensor, which microcontroller uses embedded software to calculate gas flow measurements and leak detection;
• and
• h) an inlet end cap attached to said first end portion of said body and an outlet end cap attached to said second end portion of said body to locate said center bore of said body and said center shaft.