Additional information from flowmeters via signal analysis

The analysis of the pulse output from a turbine flowmeter using a system identification approach is presented. The flowmeter is defined as a single-input, single-output system, and some useful signatures have been obtained for different process-plant configurations. The importance of flow-measurement signals from the point of view of extracting additional information, such as for condition monitoring purposes and for diagnostic engineering management and optimization of process plant operations, is demonstrated. The signal-processing methods involve system identification techniques, and the qualitative signatures which are identified for a turbine flowmeter system are also related to the condition of the process plant