A method and system for determination of dimension related information
such as volumetric flow rate(s) of a fluid flowing through a channel. In
one implementation, the method and system analyzes temporal changes in a
moving fluid's velocity profile to calculate the fluid channel
dimensions. In turn, the fluid channel dimensions and the fluid velocity
profile data may be combined to calculate the volumetric flow rate of the
fluid flowing through the channel. In this regard, the geometry of the
channel can be characterized using dimensionless variables that relate
dimensions, such as the radius across a circular cross-section, to the
largest extent of a dimension. For example, in the case where the channel
is a cylindrical tube and a pressure gradient is applied long enough for
the fluid to have reached a steady state, the dimensionless radius will
be the radius at any point divided by the overall radius of the tube. One
or more dimensionless variables can be used to characterize geometries:
for instance, one dimensionless radius characterizes a circular tube and
two dimensionless terms characterize an elliptical tube (one for the
major axis and one for the minor axis). The time required for velocity
profiles to change from one shape to another may be characterized by
dimensionless time. Dimensionless time, in turn, uses the fluid's
viscosity and density along with time and overall channel dimensions and
may be used in combination with at least one velocity profile to
calculate the volumetric flow rate of the fluid flowing through the
channel.