Magnetic fluid flow meter for gases

The paper presents the constructive details and functioning principle of an electronic volumetric flow meter for gases, which exploits the properties of magnetic fluids and has no moving mechanical components. It is a bidirectional flow meter, operating both in static and in moving conditions. The flow meter has a sensing unit, which consists of two sensors, one for differential pressure and an other for acceleration or inclination angle and of a tubular measuring element, as well as an electronic measuring system. Details are given an the hydrodynamic-electronic correction mechanism, which eliminates the influences of inclinations and accelerations on the volumic flow signal, followed by a description of the main features of the electronic system. The experiments performed showed the possibility of metering even very small gas volumes, such as 0.1 cm/sup 3/ at a flow rate of 50 cm/sup 3//min. The metering at higher flow rate values, up to 100 m/sup 3//h, needed only the insert of the measuring element corresponding to the requested flow rate domain.