Measuring fluid flow is an essential operation in many industries, such as petrochemicals, mining and power generation. However, traditional flow measurement methods, such as orifice plates and turbines, are invasive and can cause damage to the pipe.
The present invention consists of a non-intrusive and non-invasive flow sensor that uses Bragg gratings to measure pipe deformation caused by induced vibration through the fluid flow. The noise level of the vibration signal is proportional to the flow rate, which allows the sensor to determine the flow rate accurately and reliably.
Bragg gratings are optical devices that produce a light signal with a specific frequency. When Bragg gratings are deformed, the frequency of the light signal is changed. The amplitude of the pipe deformation is then calculated from the change in the frequency of the light signal.
Patent title:
Assembly and method for measuring fluid flow in pipes
Deposit Number:
BR 10 2018 011823 4
Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro – PUC-Rio
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