A SOLID-STATE TRANSDUCER BASED DYNAMIC FLUID FLOW SENSING SYSTEM

A dynamic fluid flow sensing system measures relative fluid velocity with respect to a reference member. The system includes a sensor housing supported from the reference member such that the sensor housing is exposed to fluid flowing past the reference member. A solid-state pressure sensing transducer is supported by the sensor housing for generating an electronic output signal in proportion to a sensed dynamic pressure of fluid flowing past the reference member. A central processing unit receives the electronic output signal from the transducer and generates a processed electronic output signal in accordance with a stored control program. A display receives the processed electronic output signal and displays a visual readout of desired fluid flow characteristics based on the processed electronic output signal. The dynamic fluid flow sensing system can be used on marine vessels to indicate vessel speed or in confined fluid flow passages to indicate flow characteristics such as pressure, velocity and/or flow rate.