Patent attributes
A fluid-flow measuring ball valve includes a housing and a ball having an orifice. The ball is moved between an open position allowing fluid flow through the orifice and a closed position preventing fluid flow. A first ultrasonic transducer is positioned in the housing upstream of the ball. A second ultrasonic transducer is positioned in the housing downstream of the ball and both are aligned to send and receive pulses. First and second acoustic reflectors are aligned with the transducers to transmit and reflect ultrasonic signals in at least one direction through the ball orifice when the ball is in an open position. The controller determines the fluid velocity based on measured speed of sound and calculates the volume of fluid through the orifice based on the measured fluid velocity and cross-sectional area.
