OBSTRUCTIONLESS FLOWMETER

FOR THE ELECTROMAGNETIC FLOWMETER IT HAS BEEN THEORETICALLY AND EXPERIMENTALLY ESTABLISHED THAT THE FLOW-GENERATED VOLTAGE IS THE SAME WHETHER METERING CONDUCTIVE OR INSULATING LIQUIDS. IT HAS FURTHER BEEN THEORETICALLY AND EXPERIMENTALLY ESTABLISHED THAT THE EM FLOWMETER OPERATES OPTIONALLY AS A VOLUMETRIC FLOWMETER OR AS A MASS FLOWMETER FOR INSULATING LIQUIDS, SUCH AS PETROLEUM PRODUCTS, WHERE THE MOLECULES ARE EFFECTIVELY NONPOLAR. THE LIMITATION TO DATE WITH INSULATING LIQUIDS IS ELECTRICAL INTERFERENCE OWING TO TRIBOELECTRICITY IN A TURBULENTLY FLOWING LIQUID. THE PROPOSED EFFORT SEEKS TO PROVIDE A SIGNAL CONDITIONER WHICH WILL PROVIDE ADEQUTE REJECTION OF SUCH INTERFERENCE. THIS APPEARS FEASIBLE TODAY IN LIGHT OF (1) STATE OF THE ART IN DIGITAL VOICE AND MICROPROCESSORS, AND (2) INSIGHTS INTO THE STRUCTURE AND SPECTRUM(S) OF TRIBOELECTRICITY. SUCCESS WILL ALLOW THE EM FLOWMETER TO OPERATE INDISCRIMINATELY WITH ANY SOLID OR LIQUID THAT CAN BE PUMPED OR EXTRUDED.