Ultrawide Dynamic Range Gas Flow Sensor

An innovative Ultrawide Dynamic Range Gas Flow Sensor has been developed and demonstrated under a NAVAIR-sponsored program. The meter uses acoustic pulse trains to measure gas flows through pipes or tubes in a wide range of configurations and conditions while maintaining a useable dynamic range exceeding 5000:1. The demonstrated performance is at least an order of magnitude better than conventional time-of-flight acoustic meters. The device is bidirectional, non-intrusive, and capable of resolutions well below 1 mm/sec for all flow rates up to 50 m/sec. If the gas concentration is known, gas temperature may be determined to within 0.01°C. This method has been tested successfully in a variety of applications with cross sections up to 3 meters in diameter. The demonstrated performance of the ultrasonic meter is superior to any other commercially available flow meter. The exceptional functionality opens up a new class of measurement opportunities.