A vortex flow meter is within a flow conduit. The vortex flow meter includes a housing defining a flow passage substantially in-line with the flow conduit. An actuable buff body is within the flow passage. A sensor is downstream of the actuable buff body and is attached to the housing. The sensor is configured to detect vortex shedding. A controller is configured to send a drive signal to an oscillator to oscillate the buff body. The controller is configured to receive a vortex stream from the sensor. The vortex stream is indicative of vortexes shed by the buff body within a fluid. The controller is configured to determine a flow velocity responsive to the received vortex stream.

A flow meter for measuring the flow rate of a fluid, with a measuring tube that forms a measurement chamber through which the fluid can flow and with at least one bluff body that is disposed in the measurement chamber and wherein, additionally, a measuring body, which can be displaced due to the formation of vortices at the bluff body, is disposed downstream of the bluff body in the measurement chamber. The flow meter has at least one protrusion protruding into the measurement chamber and is formed upstream of the bluff body at an inner wall delimiting the measurement chamber.

An averaging pitot tube probe assembly for use in sensing a parameter of a fluid flow in a process vessel includes an averaging pitot tube probe extending through the process vessel. The probe includes a first end extending through a first opening in the process vessel, and a second end extending through a second opening in the process vessel. A fixed mount secures the first end in a fixed position relative to the process vessel. A tensioning mount includes a tensioner that is attached to the second end of the probe and is configured to adjust a tension in the probe, and thereby adjust a resonant frequency of the probe.

Flow meters may include a body defining a fluid channel therein. At least one structure may be positioned within the fluid channel, and fixed relative to the body, that is shaped and positioned to produce a flow induced vibration that varies according to a rate of fluid flow through the fluid channel. A method of measuring a fluid flow rate may include directing a fluid over a first structure located in a first channel, and producing a first flow induced vibration that varies according to a rate of fluid flow in a first channel with the first structure. The method may further include measuring the vibration of a remote structure coupled to the first channel, and determining the rate of fluid flow in the first channel from the measured vibration.

A system for measuring the distance of an obstacle, in which an optical flow is measured radially while rotating along a circle in a plane intersecting the obstacle; and the distance of the obstacle is determined according to the amplitude of the optical flow, the radius of the circle, and the speed of rotation.

Vortex sensor amplitude information may be used to validate that a vortex signal being measured corresponds to an actual fluid flow and is not noise. The estimated amplitude of a sinusoidal vortex signal is used as a secondary means to determine the fluid flow based on vortex sensor characteristics. The original amplitude of the sinusoidal vortex signal is determined from a clipped voltage amplitude sinusoidal signal. The estimated velocity of the fluid in a pipe based on the original amplitude of the sinusoidal vortex signal is compared to the measured velocity of the fluid based on vortex velocity frequency. If the two determined velocities do not reasonably agree, the measured vortex signal is not a valid flow signal and adaptive filters are adjusted to reduce the effects of noise.

A vortex flowmeter for measuring a flow rate of a process fluid, including a vortex generator arranged to generate vortices in a flow of the process fluid, a vortex sensor arranged to sense the vortices in the flow of the process fluid and responsively provide a sensor output related to the flow rate of the process fluid, measurement circuitry configured to receive the sensor output and provide a digital output, a memory configured to store measurements based upon the digital output; and diagnostic circuitry coupled to the memory arranged to detect instability in the flow of the process fluid based upon the measurements stored in the memory.

The sensor assembly comprises: a bowl shaped, namely at least sectionally dished, membrane, with a curved surface and an oppositely lying surface; and a sensor blade extending from curved surface of the membrane. The membrane is so formed that at least one region of the curved surface adjoining the sensor blade is convex. A sensor formed by means of such a sensor assembly and by means of a transducer element coupled therewith and serving for generating a sensor signal representing movements of the sensor blade changing as a function of time and/or deformations of the membrane changing as a function of time, or a measuring system formed by means of the sensor and a measuring electronics connected thereto, can be used for registering pressure fluctuations in a flowing fluid, such as, for instance, a 400 C hot steam, for instance, in order to measure a flow parameter of the fluid.

In a sensor assembly, a deformation body has two oppositely lying surfaces, an outer edge segment and a sensor blade extending from a surface outward. A protective apparatus protects the deformation body from pressure surges or abrupt changes of temperature on its surface. The protective apparatus includes at least one plate, extending radially inwardly so that a cavity is formed, which accommodates a region of the sensor blade adjoining the deformation body and remote from the distal end of the sensor blade, forming a gap between the plate and sensor blade. A sensor formed by the sensor assembly and a transducer element coupled therewith can be used for registering pressure fluctuations in a flowing fluid, such as steam having a temperature of 400 C and/or, a pressure of greater than 140 bar in order to measure flow parameters of the fluid.

In this vortex flowmeter provided with a vortex generator and a flow rate measuring unit the flow rate measurement unit includes a piezoelectric element and a piezoelectric element case. The piezoelectric element case includes: a fitted part fitted in the body case; a pressure receiving part protruding out from a distal end face of the fitted part and placed in a body passage; a hollow portion formed along the axial direction of the piezoelectric element case in the fitted part to separate the fitted part and the pressure receiving part; and a slit formed inside of the pressure receiving part and configured to accommodate the piezoelectric element.