Vibrational forced mode fluid property monitor and method

Abstract

A fluid property monitor includes a transducer assembly to impart multiple frequency energy to a conduit in one or more modes and to receive resonant frequency energy from the conduit. The resonant frequency energy is responsive to the imparted energy, the conduit and a fluid in the conduit. The fluid property monitor can also be defined as including: a frequency signal generator connected to cause multiple frequency energy to be transferred to a conduit having a fluid to be monitored; and a spectral analysis signal processor connected to receive and process electrical signals generated in response to vibrations propagated through the conduit and the fluid in the conduit in response to transferred multiple frequency energy. Particular implementations can be adapted as a densitometer, a coherent flow detector, and other particular fluid parameter detectors. A method of monitoring a fluid includes: imparting multiple frequency vibration-inducing energy to a conduit and fluid system; and sensing a plurality of frequency signals from the conduit and fluid system responsive to at least part of the imparted multiple frequency vibration-inducing energy. This method can also include determining at least one characteristic of the conduit and fluid system in response to the sensed plurality of frequency signals.