Flow rate module and integrated flow restrictor
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsJamie W. Speldrich, Ulrich Bonne, Martin G. Murray
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An integrated module is provided for measuring a flow rate of a fluid, whether gaseous or liquid, with a flow restrictor comprising a plurality of orifices adapted to a flow channel of the integrated module and a sensor mounted to measure a property of the fluid at said flow restrictor corresponding to the flow rate. The integrated module provided may be used in numerous flow systems, such as reactors, ventilators and respirators, and has the benefit of better laminarization of the flow as well as better calibration between the flow sensor and the flow restrictor for more accurate flow measurements.
Claims34
A uniform flow apparatus comprising:
- a housing having a wall that defines a flow channel through which fluid flows, wherein the flow channel has a central axis;
- and
- a flow restrictor, with an entrance end and an exit end, disposed in the flow channel, wherein the flow restrictor comprises a plurality of orifices following a contour of the flow channel, wherein the orifices are distributed uniformly along a line extending from the central axis to the wall, and wherein the orifices produce a substantially uniform flow across the flow channel at the exit end.
An apparatus comprising:
- a housing that defines a flow channel through which fluid flows;
- and,
- a flow restrictor, wherein the flow restrictor has an entrance end and an exit end and is disposed in the flow channel, wherein the flow restrictor comprises at least three orifices distributed in parallel along a line extending perpendicularly from a longitudinal axis of the flow channel, and wherein each of the orifices has a shape about the longitudinal axis matching a shape of the flow channel so as to produce a substantially uniform flow across the flow channel at the exit end.
A module for measuring a flow rate of a fluid in a flow system, the module comprising:
- a flow restrictor disposed in a flow channel, wherein the flow restrictor creates a pressure drop;
- a sensing channel having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet and the outlet communicate with the flow channel such that the pressure drop forces a portion of a fluid in the flow channel to flow through the sensing channel;
- a flow sensor disposed in the sensing channel, wherein the flow sensor senses the flow of fluid through the sensing channel;
- and,
- a housing fastened to the flow channel and containing the flow sensor and the sensing channel.
A flow restrictor having a longitudinal axis and comprising n orifices distributed along a line that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the n orifices are parallel to one another, wherein the n orifices have different cross-sectional areas, wherein the n orifices produce a substantially uniform flow across a flow channel, and wherein n>2.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.