On the design of a wide range mini-flow paddlewheel flow sensor

This paper presents the theory, operation principle, design and result of the in-line mini-flow paddlewheel sensor. Unlike the well known turbine flow sensor [D.W. Spitzer, Flow measurement, Instrument Society of America, (1991) 373-414.], the developed theory indicates the sensor's linearity performance can be enhanced by: (1) in low-flow range, a light weight rotor aided by buoyancy. (2) In high-flow range, turbulent vortices are utilized to decrease the efficiency. The combined effect enables the sensor to have a wide range of linearity performance. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.