A FLUIDIC FLOWMETERING DEVICE FOR REMOTE MEASUREMENT

This paper deals with an experimental study of a new fluidic flowmeter ing device. When fluid flows through this device, it alternates betwee n its two states of high and low resistance, producing pressure pulses in the flow. The frequency of these pulses is directly proportional t o 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 st and-by mode so that most of its time could be spent in its low-resista nce state with little effect on the fluid flowrate. It contains no mov ing parts, and so in principle is completely maintenance free. This po tential very high reliability means that it can be used in extremely h ostile environments. Possible uses include measuring oil flowrates und er the sea-bed or in any process industry where there is a hot, radioa ctive, inaccessible or corrosive environment which precludes the insta llation of a conventional flowmeter. It could also be installed as a m eter for measurement where penetration of the pipe wall is to be avoid ed, with pulses being detected on the pipe external surface.