Flowmeter and a use thereof for measuring fluid flow independently of fluid's state property
AssigneeFord Motor Company
InventorRonald David Brost
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to a flowmeter for measuring flow rate of a fluid independently of fluid viscosity or density. In at least on embodiment, the flowmeter includes an inlet, an outlet, and a cylindrical chamber. The flowmeter also includes an impeller assembly positioned within a cylindrical chamber for rotation at a variable speed. In at least one embodiment, the flow rate of the fluid is determined when a pressure differential between the fluid in the let and fluid in the outlet becomes substantially zero.
Claims20
A flowmeter for determining a flow rate of a fluid having a plurality of state properties, the flowmeter comprising:
- a housing conduit having an inlet, an outlet, and a cylindrical chamber, the cylindrical chamber being interposed between the inlet and the outlet;
- an impeller assembly positioned within the cylindrical chamber for rotation, wherein the impeller assembly is operably coupled to a controller to facilitate the rotation of the impeller assembly at a variable speed such that a pressure differential of the fluid between the inlet and the outlet varies between a first pressure value and a second pressure value in response to the variable speed of the impeller assembly;
- and
- a pressure sensor fluidly coupled to the housing conduit and configured to measure the pressure differential of the fluid at a preselected pressure value that is between the first and second pressure values to determine the flow rate of the fluid independent of at least one state property of the fluid.
A flowmeter system for measuring a flow rate of a fluid having a plurality of state properties in a fuel cell vehicle, the flowmeter comprising:
- a housing conduit having an inlet, an outlet, and a cylindrical chamber, the cylindrical chamber being interposed between the inlet and the outlet;
- an impeller assembly positioned within the cylindrical chamber for rotation within the cylindrical chamber;
- a power source operably coupled to rotate the impeller assembly at a variable speed such that a pressure differential of the fluid between the inlet and the outlet varies between a first pressure value and a second pressure value in response to the variable speed of the impeller assembly;
- and
- a pressure sensor fluidly coupled to the housing conduit and configured to measure the pressure differential of the fluid at a preselected pressure value that is between the first and second pressure values to determine the flow rate of the fluid independent of at least one state property of the fluid.
A process for measuring a targeted state property of a sample fluid, the process comprising:
- providing a housing conduit having an inlet, an outlet, and a cylindrical chamber, the cylindrical chamber being interposed between the inlet and the outlet and having an impeller assembly positioned within the cylindrical chamber for rotation;
- subjecting a test fluid to the housing conduit through the inlet, the test fluid having a known value as to the targeted state property;
- rotating the impeller assembly at a variable speed (R) and measuring a corresponding pressure differential (Pi-Po) of the test fluid between the inlet and the outlet to form a pattern of changes between the R and the Pi-Po;
- repeating the steps of subjecting and rotating to form patterns of changes between the R and the Pi-Po with respect to each different known value of the targeted state property and to construct a look-up table showing the patterns of changes;
- contacting the housing conduit with the sample fluid through the inlet;
- varying the R and measuring corresponding Pi-Po to form a pattern of changes between the R and the Pi-Po relative to the sample fluid;
- and
- determining the targeted state property of the sample fluid by comparing the pattern of changes of the sample fluid to the look-up table.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.