Velocity and impingement method for determining parameters of a particle/fluid flow

1. A method for determining at least one flow parameter of a fluid flowing within a pipe, which fluid contains particles entrained within the fluid flow, the method comprising the steps of:

determining a velocity of the fluid flow within the pipe;

sensing impingement of particles on a surface wetted with the fluid flow, and producing a signal relating to the impingement; and

using a processor to determine the at least one flow parameter of the fluid flow utilizing the determined fluid flow velocity and the sensor signal relating to impingement of the particles on the surface wetted with the fluid flow.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the velocity is determined by determining the time of flight of a plurality of signals through the fluid flow.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the velocity is determined using ultrasonic sensors.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the velocity is determined using a meter that includes a spatial array of at least two sensors, with each sensor in the array disposed at an axial position along the pipe different than the axial positions of the other sensor or sensors, which meter produces an output related to the velocity of the fluid flow.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising the step of normalizing the sensor signal with respect to velocity.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising the step of determining a relationship between a magnitude of the sensor signal, the velocity of the flow, and particle mass flow rate for the flow, and using that relationship to determine a specific particle mass flow rate for a given flow velocity.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the wherein the impingement is sensed using at least one strain sensor.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the at least one strain sensor is attached to a pipe wall.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the at least one strain sensor is operable to sense the particles impinging against a body disposed within the fluid flow.

10. A system for determining at least one parameter of a fluid flow containing particles entrained within the flow, which flow is disposed within a pipe, the system comprising:

at least one meter operable to determine the velocity of the fluid flow within the pipe, which meter includes a spatial array of at least two sensors, with each sensor in the array disposed at an axial position along the pipe different than the axial positions of the other sensor or sensors, which meter produces an output related to the velocity of the fluid flow;

at least one sensor operable to produce a signal relating to the entrained particles impinging on a surface wetted with the fluid flow; and

a processor operable to selectively determine the at least one parameter of the fluid flow utilizing the meter output and the sensor signal relating to the particles impinging on the surface wetted with the fluid flow.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the meter is operable to determine the velocity by determining the time of flight of a plurality of signals through the fluid flow.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the meter includes ultrasonic sensors.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the processor is operable to normalize the sensor signal with respect to velocity.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the processor is operable to determine a specific particle mass flow rate for a given determined flow velocity, using a relationship between a magnitude of the sensor signal, the determined velocity of the flow, and predetermined particle mass flow rates for the fluid flow.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one sensor is a strain-type sensor.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the at least one sensor is attached to a pipe wall.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the at least one strain sensor is in communication with a body disposed within the fluid flow, and operable to sense particles impinging the body.