Abstract
This paper deals with an experimental study of a new fluidic flowmetering device. When fluid flows through this device, it alternates between its two states of high and low resistance, producing pressure pulses in the flow. The frequency of these pulses is directly proportional to the fluid flowrate and can be detected far down-stream of the device. One attraction of this device is that it could be designed with a stand-by mode so that most of its time could be spent in its low-resistance state with little effect on the fluid flowrate. It contains no moving parts, and so in principle is completely maintenance free. This potential very high reliability means that it can be used in extremely hostile environments. Possible uses include measuring oil flowrates under the sea-bed or in any process industry where there is a hot, radioactive, inaccessible or corrosive environment which precludes the installation of a conventional flowmeter. It could also be installed as a meter for measurement where penetration of the pipe wall is to be avoided, with pulses being detected on the pipe external surface.
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