A system for measuring a parameter of a fluid in a conduit comprises a flowmeter with an array processing algorithm having a wide dynamic range

摘要

A system for measuring a parameter of a fluid in a conduit. The parameter may be the flow velocity of the fluid or the speed of sound in the fluid. The apparatus 100 comprises two or more pressure sensors 101, 102, 103, spaced in an array along conduit 104, and a signal processor 108. The sensors output signals 106 indicative of dynamic pressure variations in the fluid, which signals are processed by signal processor 108. Power correlation values for the signals are determined around multiple trial parameters (trial flow velocities or speeds of sound) and curvatures associated with the correlations are calculated, preferably by fitting the data to a least squares polynomial. The trial parameter corresponding to a maximum curvature value is selected as a measurement for the parameter and is preferably the negative of the second-order coefficient a binomial fit to the data. The selected value may be used to provide an estimate for further signal processing and a quality metric may be applied to the curve fit outputs to aid in determining velocity.