An apparatus 10,110 is provided that measures the speed of sound or
acoustic disturbances propagating in a fluid or mixture having entrained
gas/air to determine the gas volume fraction of the flow 12 propagating
through a pipe 14. The apparatus includes an array of pressure sensors
disposed axially along the length of the pipe. The apparatus measures the
speed of sound propagating through the fluid to determine the gas volume
fraction of the mixture using adaptive array processing techniques to
define an acoustic ridge in the k-.omega. plane. The slope of the
acoustic ridge 61 defines the speed of sound propagating through the
fluid in the pipe.