Flowmeter plate and sensing apparatus

Abstract

A bluff body flowmeter for a pipeline is disclosed with a plate mounted within the pipe and downstream of a vortex generating body for maintaining fluid vortex streets separated to facilitate their detection and translation into indications of flowrate through the pipe. The plate is mounted downstream of the vortex generating body at a prescribed distance which defines the vortex sensing site. A plurality of plate and sensing embodiments is disclosed. In one configuration, the plate is a flat rectangular plate spanning the entire inner diameter of the pipe and has its ends rigidly secured to the inner pipe wall. The plate comprises upper and lower surfaces having a downstream length for enabling fluid vortex signals to occur alternately about the environment of each such surface. The upper and lower plate surfaces flex, or move within a midsection between its fixed ends and that flexing causes vortex signal changes which are detected by a sensor. Other embodiments including cylindrical rods affixed to upper and lower plate surfaces; a free-to-move, rather than both fixed, plate ends; ferromagnetic spheres and movement confining block cavities; as well as, central and shuttle sensor-plate configurations which do not require flexure of the plate for flowmetering are also disclosed. A capacitance plate arrangement is also disclosed.