| CPC G01F 1/684 (2013.01) [E21B 21/08 (2013.01); E21B 43/38 (2013.01); F04D 1/00 (2013.01); F04D 13/10 (2013.01); G01F 1/6965 (2013.01)] | 21 Claims |

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1. A fluid flow rate sensor, comprising:
a metal bar;
a heating element installed into a first end of the metal bar;
a first temperature transducer coupled to an outside of the metal bar at a first predefined location;
a second temperature transducer coupled to the outside of the metal bar at a second predefined location; and
a control unit that is configured to turn the heating element on and off, to analyze a first temperature indication received from the first temperature transducer, to analyze a second temperature indication received from the second temperature transducer, to determine a flow rate of a fluid that is in intimate contact with the outside of the metal bar based on analyzing the first temperature indication over time and the second temperature indication over time, based on when the heating element is turned on, and based on when the heating element is turned off, and to output the flow rate via a communication line.
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