Flow analysis system and method
First Claim
1. A flow analysis system comprising:
- a sensor in communication with a conduit including a flow therein for transmitting a signal which varies depending on the characteristics of the flow in the conduit;
a filter, responsive to said signal, tuned to pass a narrow band of frequencies proximate the resonant frequency of the sensor;
means for generating an amplitude envelope of the filtered signal;
means, responsive to the amplitude envelope, for calculating a plurality of flow indicator quantities representative of the flow in the conduit; and
means, responsive to the flow indicator quantities, for determining the flow rate of the flow in the conduit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A non-invasive flow analysis system and method wherein a sensor, such as an acoustic sensor, is coupled to a conduit for transmitting a signal which varies depending on the characteristics of the flow in the conduit. The signal is amplified and there is a filter, responsive to the sensor signal, and tuned to pass a narrow band of frequencies proximate the resonant frequency of the sensor. A demodulator generates an amplitude envelope of the filtered signal and a number of flow indicator quantities are calculated based on variations in amplitude of the amplitude envelope. A neural network, or its equivalent, is then used to determine the flow rate of the flow in the conduit based on the flow indicator quantities.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. A flow analysis system comprising:
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a sensor in communication with a conduit including a flow therein for transmitting a signal which varies depending on the characteristics of the flow in the conduit; a filter, responsive to said signal, tuned to pass a narrow band of frequencies proximate the resonant frequency of the sensor; means for generating an amplitude envelope of the filtered signal; means, responsive to the amplitude envelope, for calculating a plurality of flow indicator quantities representative of the flow in the conduit; and means, responsive to the flow indicator quantities, for determining the flow rate of the flow in the conduit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A flow analysis system comprising:
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an acoustic sensor in communication with a conduit including a flow therein for transmitting a signal which varies depending on the characteristics of the flow in the conduit; means, responsive to the amplitude envelope, for calculating a plurality of flow indicator quantities representative of the flow in the conduit; and means, responsive to the flow indicator quantities, for determining the flow rate of the flow in the conduit. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A flow analysis system comprising:
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an acoustic sensor in communication with a conduit including a flow therein for transmitting a signal which varies depending on the characteristics of the flow in the conduit; means for amplifying the signal; a filter, responsive to the amplified signal and tuned to pass a narrow band of frequencies the proximate resonant frequency of the acoustic sensor; means for generating an amplitude envelope of the filtered signal; means, responsive to the amplitude envelope, for calculating a plurality of flow indicator quantities representative of the flow in the conduit; and means, responsive to the flow indicator quantities, for determining the flow rate of the flow in the conduit. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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26. A flow analysis method comprising:
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coupling a sensor to a conduit with a flow therein and transmitting a signal which varies depending on the characteristics of the flow in the conduit; using a filter, responsive to the signal and tuned to pass a narrow band of frequencies proximate the resonant frequency of the sensor; generating an amplitude envelope of the filtered signal; calculating, in response to the amplitude envelope, a plurality of flow indicator quantities representative of the flow in the conduit; and in response to the flow indicator quantities, determining the flow rate of the flow in the conduit. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A flow analysis method comprising:
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coupling an acoustic sensor to a conduit with a flow therein and transmitting a signal which varies depending on the characteristics of the flow in the conduit; using a filter, responsive to the signal and tuned to pass a narrow band of frequencies proximate the resonant frequency of the acoustic sensor; generating an amplitude envelope of the filtered signal; calculating a plurality of flow indicator quantities representative of the flow in the conduit from the amplitude envelope; and in response to the flow indicator quantities, determining the flow rate of the flow in the conduit. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45)
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46. A flow analysis method comprising:
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coupling an acoustic sensor to a conduit with a flow therein and transmitting a signal which varies depending on the characteristics of the flow in the conduit; using the amplitude envelope to calculate a plurality of flow indicator quantities representative of the flow in the conduit; and determining the flow rate of the flow in the conduit from the flow indicator quantities. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification