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A system to measure fluid flow characteristics in a pipeline, meter, and methods includes a pipeline having a passageway to transport flowing fluid therethrough, a process density meter including at least portions thereof positioned within the pipeline to provide flowing fluid characteristics includ

A system to measure fluid flow characteristics in a pipeline, meter, and methods includes a pipeline having a passageway to transport flowing fluid therethrough, a process density meter including at least portions thereof positioned within the pipeline to provide flowing fluid characteristics including volumetric flow rate, fluid density, and mass flow rate of the flowing fluid, and a fluid characteristic display to display the fluid characteristics. The process density meter includes a vortex-shedding body positioned within the pipeline to form vortices and a vortex meter having a vortex frequency sensor to measure the frequency of the vortices and to determine the volumetric flow rate. The process density meter further includes a differential pressure meter positioned adjacent the vortex-shedding body to produce a differential pressure meter flow rate signal indicative of the density of fluid when flowing through the pipeline. The process density meter also includes a thermal flow meter positioned adjacent the vortex-shedding body to produce a mass flow rate signal indicative of the mass flow rate of fluid when flowing through the pipeline. The process density meter produces an output of a volumetric flow rate, a flowing fluid density, and a mass flow rate to be displayed by the fluid characteristic display.

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1. A system for measuring fluid flow characteristics in a pipeline, the system comprising:a pipeline including a first fluid passageway having a longitudinal axis to transport fluid therethrough; a process density meter having at least portions thereof positioned within the first fluid passageway of

1. A system for measuring fluid flow characteristics in a pipeline, the system comprising:a pipeline including a first fluid passageway having a longitudinal axis to transport fluid therethrough; a process density meter having at least portions thereof positioned within the first fluid passageway of the pipeline and including: a vortex-shedding body positioned within the first fluid passageway of the pipeline and having: an upstream surface positioned transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof, a plurality of downstream surfaces, a plurality of total pressure inlet ports positioned in the upstream surface, a plurality of static pressure inlet ports positioned in at least one of the downstream surfaces, a thermal sensor inlet port also positioned in the upstream surface, a thermal sensor outlet port also positioned in at least one of the downstream surfaces, a second fluid passageway extending between the thermal sensor inlet port and the thermal sensor outlet port and positioned so that fluid flowing through the pipeline passes therethrough; a vortex meter positioned adjacent the vortex-shedding body including: a memory having pipeline volume data stored therein, a vortex frequency sensor positioned adjacent the vortex-shedding body to sense the frequency of vortices shed by the vortex-shedding body to thereby produce a fluid flow rate signal responsive to the frequency of vortices shed by the vortex-shedding body, and a volumetric flow rate calculator positioned to receive the pipeline volume data stored in the memory and the flow rate signal from the vortex frequency sensor to calculate a volumetric flow rate signal indicative of volumetric flow rate of fluid when flowing through the pipeline; a total pressure manifold positioned in the vortex-shedding body and adjacent the upstream surface and having a plurality of total pressure inlet channels coaxially aligned with the plurality of total pressure inlet ports in the upstream surface and a total pressure outlet channel in fluid communication with the plurality of total pressure inlet channels so that a first portion of fluid when flowing through the pipeline passes into and through each of the total pressure inlet ports and out of the total pressure outlet channel; a static pressure manifold positioned in the vortex-shedding body and adjacent at least one of the downstream surfaces and having a plurality of static pressure inlet channels aligned with the plurality of static pressure inlet ports in the at least one of the downstream surfaces and a static pressure outlet channel so that a second portion of fluid when flowing through the pipeline passes into and through each of the static pressure inlet ports and out of the static pressure outlet channel; a differential pressure meter positioned adjacent the vortex-shedding body and including a total pressure inlet positioned to receive fluid flowing through the total pressure outlet channel, a static pressure inlet positioned to receive fluid flowing through the static pressure outlet channel, and a differential pressure converter positioned to receive fluid pressure from the total pressure inlet and the static pressure inlet and to produce a differential pressure meter flow rate signal proportional to density of fluid when flowing through the pipeline; a thermal flow meter positioned to produce a first mass flow rate signal indicative of a mass flow rate of fluid when flowing through the pipeline and including: a thermal flow probe positioned within the second fluid passageway extending between the thermal sensor inlet port and thermal sensor outlet port in the vortex-shedding body, the thermal flow probe having: a thermal sensor inlet in fluid communication with the thermal sensor inlet port in the upstream surface of the vortex-shedding body to allow a third portion of fluid flowing through the second fluid passageway to enter the thermal flow probe, a thermal sensor outlet in fluid communication with the thermal sensor outlet port in the at least one of the downstream surfaces of the vortex-shedding body to allow the third portion of fluid to exit the thermal flow probe, a thermal probe channel extending between the thermal sensor inlet and the thermal sensor outlet so that the third portion of fluid when flowing through the thermal sensor inlet port passes into and through the thermal sensor inlet and so that the third portion of fluid passing into and through the thermal sensor inlet passes out of the thermal sensor outlet and out of the thermal sensor outlet port, an ambient temperature sensor positioned within the thermal probe channel to detect ambient temperature of the third portion of fluid flowing between the thermal sensor inlet and thermal sensor outlet, and a thermal flow detection sensor positioned within the thermal probe channel to sense an amount of thermal energy removed by the third portion of fluid flowing between the thermal sensor inlet and the thermal sensor outlet; a thermal flow meter mass flow signal calculator responsive to the ambient temperature sensor and the thermal flow detection sensor to calculate the first mass flow rate signal; a fluid characteristic determiner positioned in communication with the vortex meter, the differential pressure meter, and the thermal flow meter to process sensed signals therefrom, the fluid characteristic determiner including a first fluid density calculator responsive to the volumetric flow rate signal received from the vortex meter and the differential pressure meter flow rate signal received from the differential pressure meter and positioned to calculate a first density signal indicative of flowing fluid density, and a fluid mass flow rate calculator responsive to the volumetric flow rate received from the vortex meter and the differential pressure meter flow rate signal received from the differential pressure meter and positioned to calculate a second mass flow rate signal indicative of flowing fluid mass flow rate; and a fluid characteristic display positioned external to the first fluid passageway of the pipeline, in communication with the process density meter, and positioned to receive the volumetric flow rate signal, the first density signal, and the second mass flow rate signal from the process density meter to display volumetric flow rate, flowing fluid density, and mass flow rate of the flowing fluid to a user thereof. 2. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the process density meter further includes a verifier responsive to the first density signal and the second mass flow rate signal from the fluid characteristic determiner to verify the accuracy of the first density signal and the second mass flow rate signal from the fluid characteristic determiner, the verifier including:a second fluid density calculator responsive to the first mass flow rate signal from the thermal flow meter and the volumetric flow rate signal from the vortex meter to calculate a second density signal; and a comparator responsive to the second mass flow rate signal and the first density signal from the fluid characteristic determiner and positioned to receive the first mass flow rate signal from the thermal flow meter, the volumetric flow rate from the vortex meter, and the second density signal from the second fluid density calculator to compare the second mass flow rate signal from the fluid characteristic determiner with the sensed first mass flow rate signal from the thermal flow meter and to compare the first density signal from the fluid characteristic determiner with the second density signal from the second fluid density calculator to verify reliability of both the second mass flow rate signal and the first density signal from the fluid characteristic determiner to output a first verification signal indicating verified mass flow rate from the fluid characteristic determiner and a second verification signal indicating verified density to thereby determine the accuracy of the second mass flow rate signal and the first density signal from the fluid characteristic determiner. 3. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the differential pressure meter comprises an averaging pitot tube meter, and wherein the differential pressure converter of the differential pressure meter produces a density dependent volumetric flow rate proportional to the quotient of a true flow rate divided by the square root of the ratio of a base specific gravity and a true specific gravity.4. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the process density meter includes a signal conditioner responsive to the first density signal from the fluid characteristic determiner and positioned to receive a temperature signal from the ambient temperature sensor of the thermal flow meter and a static pressure signal from the differential pressure meter to condition the first density signal to form a temperature and pressure compensated first density signal.5. A system as defined in claim 4, wherein the process density meter further includes a verifier responsive to the first density signal from the signal conditioner and second mass flow rate signal to verify the accuracy of the first density signal and second mass flow rate signal, the verifier including:a second fluid density calculator responsive to the first mass flow rate signal from the thermal flow meter and volumetric flow rate signal from the vortex meter to calculate a second density signal; and a comparator responsive to the second mass flow rate signal and the first density signal from the signal conditioner and positioned to receive the first mass flow rate signal from the thermal flow meter, the volumetric flow rate from the vortex meter, and the second density signal from the second fluid density calculator to compare the second mass flow rate signal with the sensed first mass flow rate signal from the thermal flow meter and to compare the first density signal from the signal conditioner with the second density signal from the second fluid density calculator to verify reliability of both the second mass flow rate signal and the first density signal from the signal conditioner to output a first verification signal indicating verified mass flow rate and a second verification signal indicating verified density from the signal conditioner to thereby determine the accuracy of the second mass flow rate signal and the first density signal from the signal conditioner. 6. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the first fluid passageway of the pipeline has a predetermined inner diameter, and wherein the process density meter further includes a process density meter housing including a first end, a second end, and a third fluid passageway extending therebetween and having an outer diameter substantially the same as the predetermined inner diameter of the pipeline and in fluid communication with flowing fluid to support the vortex-shedding body of the vortex meter within the flowing fluid of the pipeline.7. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the thermal flow meter mass flow signal calculator produces at least one of a voltage and a current required to maintain a constant temperature differential between the ambient temperature sensor and the thermal flow detection sensor.8. A system for measuring fluid flow characteristics in a pipeline, the system comprising:a pipeline including a first fluid passageway having a longitudinal axis to transport fluid therethrough; a process density meter having at least portions thereof positioned within the first fluid passageway of the pipeline and including: a vortex-shedding body positioned within the first fluid passageway of the pipeline and having: an upstream surface positioned transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof, a plurality of downstream surfaces, a plurality of total pressure inlet ports positioned in the upstream surface, and a plurality of static pressure inlet ports positioned in at least one of the downstream surfaces; a vortex meter positioned adjacent the vortex-shedding body including: a memory having pipeline volume data stored therein, a vortex frequency sensor positioned to sense the frequency of vortices shed by the vortex-shedding body to thereby produce a fluid flow rate signal responsive to the frequency of vortices shed by the vortex-shedding body, and a volumetric flow rate calculator positioned to receive the pipeline volume data stored in the memory and the flow rate signal from the vortex frequency sensor to calculate a volumetric flow rate signal indicative of volumetric flow rate of fluid when flowing through the pipeline; a total pressure manifold positioned in the vortex-shedding body and adjacent the upstream surface and having a plurality of total pressure inlet channels coaxially aligned with the plurality of total pressure inlet ports in the upstream surface and a total pressure outlet channel in fluid communication with the plurality of total pressure inlet channels so that a first portion of fluid when flowing through the pipeline passes into and through each of the total pressure inlet ports and out of the total pressure outlet channel; a static pressure manifold positioned in the vortex-shedding body and adjacent at least one of the downstream surfaces and having a plurality of static pressure inlet channels aligned with the plurality of static pressure inlet ports in the at least one of the downstream surfaces and a static pressure outlet channel so that a second portion of fluid when flowing through the pipeline passes into and through each of the static pressure inlet ports and out of the static pressure outlet channel; a differential pressure meter positioned adjacent the vortex-shedding body and including a total pressure inlet positioned to receive fluid flowing through the total pressure outlet channel, a static pressure inlet positioned to receive fluid flowing through the static pressure outlet channel, and a differential pressure converter positioned to receive fluid pressure from the total pressure inlet and the static pressure inlet and to produce a differential pressure meter flow rate signal proportional to density of fluid when flowing through the pipeline; and a fluid characteristic determiner positioned in communication with the vortex meter, the differential pressure meter and the thermal flow meter, to process sensed signals therefrom, the fluid characteristic determiner including a first fluid density calculator responsive to the volumetric flow rate signal received from the vortex meter and the differential pressure meter flow rate signal received from the differential pressure meter and positioned to calculate a first density signal indicative of flowing fluid density and a fluid mass flow rate calculator to calculate a first mass flow rate signal indicative of flowing fluid mass flow rate. 9. A system as defined in claim 8, wherein the process density meter further comprises a thermal flow meter positioned to produce a second mass flow rate signal indicative of a mass flow rate of fluid when flowing through the pipeline and including:a plurality of thermal sensors positioned adjacent the vortex-shedding body to provide thermal energy and to sense temperature of a third portion of fluid when flowing through the pipeline; and a thermal flow meter mass flow signal calculator positioned adjacent the vortex-shedding body and responsive to the plurality of thermal sensors to calculate the second mass flow rate signal. 10. A system as defined in claim 9, wherein the process density meter further includes a verifier responsive to the first density signal and the first mass flow rate signal from the fluid characteristic determiner to verify accuracy of the first flowing fluid density signal and the first mass flow rate signal from the fluid characteristic determiner, the verifier including:a second fluid density calculator responsive to the second mass flow rate signal from the thermal flow meter and the volumetric flow rate signal from the vortex meter to calculate a second density signal; and a comparator responsive to the first mass flow rate signal and the first density signal from the fluid characteristic determiner and positioned to receive the second mass flow rate signal from the thermal flow meter, the volumetric flow rate from the vortex meter, and the second density signal from the second fluid density calculator to compare the first mass flow rate signal from the fluid characteristic determiner with the second mass flow rate signal from the thermal flow meter and to compare the first density signal from the fluid characteristic determiner with the second density signal from the second fluid density calculator to verify reliability of both the first mass flow rate signal and the first density signal from the fluid characteristic determiner to output a first verification signal indicating verified mass flow rate from the fluid characteristic determiner and a second verification signal indicating verified density to thereby determine the accuracy of the first mass flow rate signal and the first density signal from the fluid characteristic determiner. 11. A system as defined in claim 9, wherein the process density meter further includes a signal conditioner responsive to the first density signal from the fluid characteristic determiner and positioned to receive temperature from the ambient temperature sensor of the thermal flow meter and a static pressure signal from the differential pressure meter to condition the first density signal to form a temperature and pressure compensated first density signal.12. A process density meter as defined in claim 9, wherein the thermal flow meter further includes a thermal flow probe to house a plurality of thermal sensors and positioned adjacent the vortex-shedding body, the thermal flow probe having:a thermal sensor inlet positioned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipeline and in fluid communication with the first fluid passageway of the pipeline to allow a third portion of fluid flowing through the first fluid passageway to enter the thermal flow probe; a thermal sensor outlet positioned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first fluid passageway of the pipeline to allow the third portion of fluid to exit the thermal flow probe; and a thermal probe channel extending between the thermal sensor inlet and the thermal sensor outlet so that the third portion of fluid when flowing through the first fluid passageway of the pipeline passes into and through the thermal sensor inlet, and so that the third portion of fluid passing into and through the thermal sensor inlet passes out of the thermal sensor outlet. 13. A system as defined in claim 12, wherein the plurality of thermal sensors include:an ambient temperature sensor positioned within the thermal probe channel to detect ambient temperature of the third portion of fluid flowing between the thermal sensor inlet and thermal sensor outlet; and a thermal flow detection sensor positioned within the thermal probe channel to sense an amount of thermal energy removed by the third portion of fluid flowing between the thermal sensor inlet and the thermal sensor outlet. 14. A system as defined in claim 9, wherein the vortex-shedding body has a thermal sensor inlet port positioned in the upstream surface, a thermal sensor outlet port positioned in at least one of the downstream surfaces, and a second fluid passageway extending between the thermal sensor inlet port and the thermal sensor outlet port and positioned so that a third portion of fluid flowing through the first fluid passageway of the pipeline passes therethrough.15. A system as defined in claim 14, wherein the thermal flow meter further includes a thermal flow probe to house a plurality of thermal sensors and positioned within the second passageway extending between the thermal sensor inlet port and thermal sensor outlet port in the vortex-shedding body, the thermal flow probe having:a thermal sensor inlet in fluid communication with the thermal sensor inlet port in the upstream surface of the vortex-shedding body to allow the third portion of fluid flowing through the second fluid passageway to enter the thermal flow probe; a thermal sensor outlet in fluid communication with the thermal sensor outlet port in the at least one of the downstream surfaces of the vortex-shedding body to allow the third portion of fluid to exit the thermal flow probe; and a thermal probe channel extending between the thermal sensor inlet and the thermal sensor outlet so that the third portion of fluid when flowing through the thermal sensor inlet port passes into and through the thermal sensor inlet, and so that the third portion of fluid passing into and through the thermal sensor inlet passes out of the thermal sensor outlet and out of the thermal sensor outlet port. 16. A system as defined in claim 9, wherein the third portion of fluid is obstructed when flowing through the thermal sensors of the thermal flow meter, and wherein the mass flow signal calculator of the thermal flow meter further includes a thermal mass flow signal compensator to compensate for an error induced by the obstructed flow.17. A system as defined in claim 8, wherein the differential pressure meter comprises an averaging pitot tube meter, and wherein the differential pressure converter of the differential pressure meter produces a density dependent volumetric flow rate proportional to the quotient of a true flow rate divided by the square root of the ratio of a base specific gravity and a true specific gravity.18. A system as defined in claim 8, wherein the first fluid passageway of the pipeline has a predetermined inner diameter, and wherein the process density meter further includes a process density meter housing including a first end, a second end, and a third fluid passageway extending therebetween and having an outer diameter substantially the same as the predetermined inner diameter of the pipeline and in fluid communication with flowing fluid to support the vortex-shedding body of the vortex meter within the flowing fluid of the pipeline.19. A system as defined in claim 8, wherein the pipeline has an upstream and a downstream section, wherein the first fluid passageway of the pipeline has a predetermined inner diameter, and wherein the process density meter further includes a process density meter housing adapted to connect to the upstream and downstream sections of the pipeline and including a first end, a second end, and a third fluid passageway extending therebetween and having an inner diameter substantially the same as the predetermined inner diameter of the pipeline and in fluid communication with flowing fluid to support the vortex-shedding body of the vortex meter within the flowing fluid of the pipeline.20. A system as defined in claim 8, wherein the vortex-shedding body is adapted to connect to the pipeline on opposite sides within the first fluid passageway.21. A system as defined in claim 8, further comprising a fluid characteristic display positioned external to the first fluid passageway of the pipeline, in communication with the process density meter, and positioned to receive the volumetric flow rate signal, the first fluid density signal, and the first mass flow rate signal from the process density meter to display volumetric flow rate, density, and mass flow rate of the flowing fluid to the user thereof.22. A process density meter for measuring fluid flow characteristics in a pipeline including a first fluid passageway having a longitudinal axis to transport fluid therethrough, and having at least portions thereof positioned within the first fluid passageway of the pipeline, the process density meter comprising:a vortex-shedding body positioned within the first fluid passageway of the pipeline and having: an upstream surface positioned transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof, at least one downstream surface, a plurality of total pressure inlet ports positioned in the upstream surface, and a plurality of static pressure inlet ports positioned in the at least one downstream surface; a vortex meter positioned adjacent the vortex-shedding body including: a memory having pipeline volume data stored therein, a vortex frequency sensor positioned to sense the frequency of vortices shed by the vortex-shedding body to thereby produce a fluid flow rate signal responsive to the frequency of vortices shed by the vortex-shedding body, and a volumetric flow rate calculator positioned to receive the pipeline volume data stored in the memory and flow rate signal from the vortex frequency sensor to calculate a volumetric flow rate signal indicative of volumetric flow rate of fluid when flowing through the pipeline; a total pressure manifold positioned in the vortex-shedding body and adjacent the upstream surface and having a plurality of total pressure inlet channels coaxially aligned with the plurality of total pressure inlet ports in the upstream surface and a total pressure outlet channel in fluid communication with the plurality of total pressure inlet channels so that a first portion of fluid when flowing through the pipeline passes into and through each of the total pressure inlet ports and out of the total pressure outlet channel; a static pressure manifold positioned in the vortex-shedding body and adjacent the at least one downstream surface and having a plurality of static pressure inlet channels aligned with the plurality of static pressure inlet ports in the at least one downstream surface and a static pressure outlet channel so that a second portion of fluid when flowing through the pipeline passes into and through each of the static pressure inlet ports and out of the static pressure outlet channel; a differential pressure meter positioned adjacent the vortex-shedding body and including a total pressure inlet positioned to receive fluid flowing through the total pressure outlet channel, a static pressure inlet positioned to receive fluid flowing through the static pressure outlet channel, and a differential pressure converter positioned to receive fluid pressure from the total pressure inlet and the static pressure inlet and to produce a differential pressure meter flow rate signal proportional to density of fluid when flowing through the pipeline; and a fluid characteristic determiner positioned in communication with the vortex meter and the differential pressure meter to process sensed signals therefrom, the fluid characteristic determiner including a first fluid density calculator responsive to the volumetric flow rate signal received from the vortex meter and the differential pressure meter flow rate signal received from the differential pressure meter and positioned to calculate a first density signal indicative of flowing fluid density, and fluid mass flow rate calculator responsive to the volumetric flow rate signal received from the vortex meter and the differential pressure meter flow rate signal received from the differential pressure meter and positioned to calculate a first mass flow rate signal indicative of flowing fluid mass flow rate. 23. A process density meter as defined in claim 22, wherein the process density meter further includes an ambient temperature sensor positioned within the first fluid passageway of the pipeline to detect an ambient temperature of a third portion of fluid flowing through the pipeline and produce an ambient temperature signal.24. A process density meter as defined in claim 23, wherein the differential pressure converter is also positioned to receive the ambient temperature signal from the ambient temperature sensor, wherein the differential pressure meter flow rate signal is proportional to temperature and pressure compensated density of the fluid when flowing through the pipeline, and wherein the density signal from the fluid characteristic determiner is both pressure and temperature compensated.25. A process density meter as defined in claim 23, wherein the process density meter further includes a signal conditioner responsive to the density signal from the fluid characteristic determiner and positioned to receive the ambient temperature signal from the ambient temperature sensor and a static pressure signal from the differential pressure meter to condition the density signal from the first fluid characteristic determiner to form a temperature and pressure compensated first density signal.26. A process density meter as defined in claim 22, wherein the differential pressure meter comprises an averaging pitot tube meter, and wherein the differential pressure converter of the differential pressure meter produces a density dependent volumetric flow rate proportional to the quotient of a true flow rate divided by the square root of the ratio of a base specific gravity and a true specific gravity.27. A process density meter as defined in claim 22, wherein the first fluid passageway of the pipeline has a predetermined inner diameter, and wherein the process density meter further includes a process density meter housing including a first end, a second end, and a second fluid passageway extending therebetween and having an outer diameter substantially the same as the predetermined inner diameter of the pipeline and in fluid communication with flowing fluid to support the vortex-shedding body of the vortex meter within the flowing fluid of the pipeline.28. A process density meter as defined in claim 22, wherein the pipeline has an upstream and a downstream section, wherein the first fluid passageway of the pipeline has a predetermined inner diameter, and wherein the process density meter further includes a process density meter housing adapted to connect to the upstream and downstream sections of the pipeline and including a first end, a second end, and a second fluid passageway extending therebetween and having an inner diameter substantially the same as the predetermined inner diameter of the pipeline and in fluid communication with flowing fluid to support the vortex-shedding body of the vortex meter within the flowing fluid of the pipeline.29. A process density meter as defined in claim 22, wherein the vortex-shedding body is adapted to connect to the pipeline on opposite sides within the first fluid passageway.30. A process density meter as defined in claim 22, further comprising a fluid characteristic display positioned external to the first fluid passageway of the pipeline, in communication with the vortex meter and the fluid characteristic determiner, and positioned to receive the volumetric flow rate signal from the vortex meter, and the fluid density signal and mass flow rate signal from the fluid characteristic determiner to display volumetric flow rate, density, and mass flow rate of the flowing fluid, to a user thereof.31. A process density meter for measuring fluid flow characteristics in a pipeline including a first fluid passageway having a longitudinal axis to transport fluid therethrough, and having at least portions thereof positioned within the first fluid passageway of the pipeline, the process density meter comprising:a vortex-shedding body positioned within the first fluid passageway of the pipeline and having: an upstream surface positioned transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof, and a plurality of downstream surfaces; a vortex meter positioned adjacent the vortex-shedding body including: a memory having pipeline volume data stored therein, a vortex frequency sensor positioned to sense the frequency of vortices shed by the vortex-shedding body to thereby produce a fluid flow rate signal responsive to the frequency of vortices shed by the vortex-shedding body, and a volumetric flow rate calculator positioned to receive the pipeline volume data stored in the memory and the flow rate signal from the vortex frequency sensor to calculate a volumetric flow rate signal indicative of volumetric flow rate of fluid when flowing through the pipeline; a thermal flow meter positioned to produce a mass flow rate signal indicative of a mass flow rate of fluid when flowing through the first fluid passageway of the pipeline and including: a plurality of thermal sensors positioned adjacent the vortex-shedding body to provide thermal energy and to sense temperature of a portion of fluid when flowing through the first fluid passageway of the pipeline, and a thermal flow meter mass flow signal calculator responsive to the plurality of thermal sensors and positioned to produce the mass flow rate signal; and a fluid characteristic determiner positioned in communication with the vortex meter and the thermal flow meter to process sensed signals therefrom, the fluid characteristic determiner including a first fluid density calculator responsive to the volumetric flow rate signal received from the vortex meter and the mass flow rate signal received from the thermal flow meter, and positioned to calculate a density signal indicative of flowing fluid density. 32. A process density meter as defined in claim 31, wherein the thermal flow meter further includes a thermal flow probe to house a plurality of thermal sensors and positioned adjacent to the vortex-shedding body, the thermal flow probe having:a thermal sensor inlet positioned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipeline and in fluid communication with the first fluid passageway of the pipeline to allow the first portion of fluid flowing through the fluid passageway to enter the thermal flow probe; a thermal sensor outlet positioned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipeline to allow the portion of fluid to exit the thermal flow probe; and a thermal probe channel extending between the thermal sensor inlet and the thermal sensor outlet so that the first portion of fluid when flowing through the pipeline passes into and through the thermal sensor inlet and so that the portion of fluid passing into and through the thermal sensor inlet passes out of the thermal sensor outlet. 33. A process density meter as defined in claim 32, wherein the plurality of thermal sensors include an ambient temperature sensor positioned within the thermal probe channel to detect ambient temperature of the portion of fluid flowing between the thermal sensor inlet and thermal sensor outlet and a thermal flow detection sensor positioned within the thermal probe channel to sense an amount of thermal energy removed by the portion of fluid flowing between the thermal sensor inlet and the thermal sensor outlet.34. A process density meter as defined in claim 32, wherein the vortex-shedding body has:a thermal sensor inlet port positioned in the upstream surface; a thermal sensor outlet port positioned in at least one of the downstream surface; and a second passageway extending between the thermal sensor inlet port and the thermal sensor outlet port positioned so that the portion of fluid flowing fluid through the pipeline passes therethrough. 35. A process density meter as defined in claim 34, wherein the thermal flow probe is positioned within the second passageway extending between the thermal sensor inlet port and thermal sensor outlet port in the vortex-shedding body.36. A process density meter as defined in claim 35, wherein:the thermal sensor inlet of the thermal flow probe is in fluid communication with the thermal sensor inlet port in the upstream surface of the vortex-shedding body to allow a first portion of fluid flowing through the second fluid passageway to enter the thermal flow probe; the thermal sensor outlet of the thermal probe is in fluid communication with the thermal sensor outlet port in the at least one of the downstream surfaces of the vortex-shedding body to allow the first portion of fluid to exit the thermal flow probe; and the first portion of fluid when flowing through the thermal sensor inlet port passes into and through the thermal sensor inlet, passes out of the thermal sensor outlet, and passes out of the thermal sensor outlet port. 37. A process density meter as defined in claim 31, wherein the portion of fluid is obstructed when flowing through the thermal sensors of the thermal flow meter, and wherein the thermal flow meter mass flow signal calculator of the thermal flow meter further includes a thermal mass flow signal compensator to compensate for an error induced by the obstructed flow.38. A process density meter as defined in claim 31, wherein the first fluid passageway of the pipeline has a predetermined inner diameter, wherein the process density meter further includes a process density meter housing including a first end, a second end, and a second fluid passageway extending therebetween and having an outer diameter substantially the same as the predetermined inner diameter of the pipeline and in fluid communication with flowing fluid to support the vortex-shedding body of the vortex meter within the flowing fluid of the pipeline.39. A process density meter as defined in claim 31, wherein the pipeline has an upstream and a downstream section, wherein the first fluid passageway of the pipeline has a predetermined inner diameter, and wherein the process density meter further includes a process density meter housing adapted to connect to the upstream and downstream sections of the pipeline and including a first end, a second end, and a second fluid passageway extending therebetween and having an inner diameter substantially the same as the predetermined inner diameter of the pipeline and in fluid communication with flowing fluid to support the vortex-shedding body of the vortex meter within the flowing fluid of the pipeline.40. A process density meter as defined in claim 31, wherein the vortex-shedding body is adapted to connect to the pipeline on opposite sides within the first fluid passageway.41. A process density meter as defined in claim 31, further comprising a fluid characteristic display positioned external to the first fluid passageway of the pipeline, in communication with the vortex meter and the fluid characteristic determiner, and positioned to receive the volumetric flow rate signal from the vortex meter, the mass flow rate from the thermal flow meter, and the fluid density signal from the fluid characteristic determiner to display volumetric flow rate, density, and mass flow rate of the flowing fluid, to a user thereof.42. A method for measuring flowing fluid characteristics in a pipeline using a process density meter having at least portions thereof positioned within a fluid passageway of the pipeline, the method comprising the steps of:measuring a vortex frequency shedding rate of a vortex shedding body with a vortex meter to determine both a fluid flow rate and volumetric flow rate; measuring differential pressure formed between the upstream and downstream of the vortex-shedding body with a differential pressure meter to determine a density and specific gravity dependent fluid flow rate; determining the specific gravity of the flowing fluid from the volumetric flow rate and the differential pressure meter flow rate; determining density from the specific gravity determined from the volumetric flow rate and the differential pressure meter flow rate; and displaying density and volumetric flow rate to a user thereof on a fluid characteristic display positioned to receive density and volumetric flow rate. 43. A method of claim 42, further comprising the steps of:measuring static pressure and ambient temperature of the flowing fluid; determining pressure and temperature compensated density by compensating the density determined from signals from the vortex meter and differential pressure meter with a static pressure and an ambient temperature of the flowing fluid; determining mass flow rate from the pressure and temperature compensated density and volumetric flow rate; and displaying pressure and temperature compensated density, mass flow rate and volumetric flow rate to a user thereof on a fluid characteristic display positioned to receive pressure and temperature compensated density, volumetric flow rate, and mass flow rate. 44. A method of claim 43, further comprising the steps of:measuring mass flow rate using a mass flow rate meter, determining density from the mass flow rate and the volumetric flow rate of the vortex meter; and verifying accuracy of the pressure and temperature compensated density and verifying the accuracy of the mass flow rate determined from the pressure and temperature compensated density by comparing the mass flow rate determined from the pressure and temperature compensated density with the mass flow rate measured by the mass flow rate meter and by comparing the pressure and temperature compensated density with the density determined from the mass flow rate measured by the mass flow rate meter. 45. A method for measuring flowing fluid characteristics in a pipeline using a process density meter having at least portions thereof positioned within a fluid passageway of the pipeline, the method including the steps of:measuring a vortex frequency shedding rate with a vortex meter to determine both a fluid flow rate and volumetric flow rate; measuring mass flow rate using a mass flow rate meter; determining density from the mass flow rate meter and volumetric flow rate from the vortex meter; and displaying density, mass flow rate and volumetric flow rate to a user thereof on a fluid characteristic display positioned to receive density, volumetric flow rate, and mass flow rate. 46. A system for measuring fluid flow characteristics in a pipeline, the system comprising:a pipeline including a first fluid passageway having a longitudinal axis to transport fluid therethrough; a process density meter having at least portions thereof positioned within the first fluid passageway of the pipeline and including: a vortex-shedding body positioned within the first fluid passageway of the pipeline and having: an upstream surface positioned transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof a plurality of downstream surfaces, a thermal sensor inlet port also positioned in the upstream surface, a thermal sensor outlet port also positioned in at least one of the downstream surfaces, and a second fluid passageway extending between the thermal sensor inlet port and the thermal sensor outlet port and positioned so that fluid flowing through the pipeline passes therethrough; a vortex meter positioned adjacent the vortex-shedding body including: a memory having pipeline volume data stored therein, a vortex frequency sensor positioned adjacent the vortex-shedding body to sense the frequency of vortices shed by the vortex-shedding body to thereby produce a fluid flow rate signal responsive to the frequency of vortices shed by the vortex-shedding body, and a volumetric flow rate calculator positioned to receive the pipeline volume data stored in the memory and the flow rate signal from the vortex frequency sensor to calculate a volumetric flow rate signal indicative of volumetric flow rate of fluid when flowing through the pipeline; a thermal flow meter positioned to produce a mass flow rate signal indicative of a mass flow rate of fluid when flowing through the pipeline and including: a thermal flow probe positioned within the second fluid passageway extending between the thermal sensor inlet port and thermal sensor outlet port in the vortex-shedding body to house a plurality of thermal sensors, the plurality of thermal sensors positioned to provide thermal energy and to sense temperature of a portion of fluid when flowing through the pipeline, and a thermal flow meter mass flow signal calculator positioned adjacent the vortex-shedding body and responsive to the plurality of thermal sensors to calculate the mass flow rate signal; and a fluid characteristic determiner positioned in communication with the vortex meter and the thermal flow meter to process sensed signals therefrom, the fluid characteristic determiner including a fluid density calculator responsive to the volumetric flow rate signal received from the vortex meter and the mass flow rate signal received from the thermal flow meter, and positioned to calculate a density signal indicative of flowing fluid density. 47. A system as defined in claim 46, wherein the thermal flow probe further includes:a thermal sensor inlet in fluid communication with the thermal sensor inlet port in the upstream surface of the vortex-shedding body to allow the portion of fluid flowing through the second fluid passageway to enter the thermal flow probe; a thermal sensor outlet in fluid communication with the thermal sensor outlet port in the at least one of the downstream surfaces of the vortex-shedding body to allow the portion of fluid to exit the thermal flow probe; and a thermal probe channel extending between the thermal sensor inlet and the thermal sensor outlet so that the portion of fluid when flowing through the thermal sensor inlet port passes into and through the thermal sensor inlet and so that the portion of fluid passing into and through the thermal sensor inlet passes out of the thermal sensor outlet and out of the thermal sensor outlet port. 48. A system as defined in claim 46, wherein the plurality of thermal sensors include an ambient temperature sensor positioned within the thermal probe channel to detect ambient temperature of the portion of fluid flowing between the thermal sensor inlet and thermal sensor outlet, and a thermal flow detection sensor positioned within the thermal probe channel to sense an amount of thermal energy removed by the portion of fluid flowing between the thermal sensor inlet and the thermal sensor outlet.49. A system as defined in claim 46, wherein the portion of fluid is obstructed when flowing through the thermal sensors of the thermal flow meter, and wherein the thermal flow meter mass flow signal calculator of the thermal flow meter further includes a thermal mass flow signal compensator to compensate for an error induced by the obstructed flow.50. A system as defined in claim 46,wherein the portion of fluid flowing through the pipeline is a first portion of fluid; wherein the vortex-shedding body further includes: a plurality of total pressure inlet ports positioned in the upstream surface, and a plurality of static pressure inlet ports positioned in at least one of the downstream surfaces; and wherein the process density meter further includes: a total pressure manifold positioned in the vortex-shedding body and adjacent the upstream surface and having a plurality of total pressure inlet channels coaxially aligned with the plurality of total pressure inlet ports in the upstream surface and a total pressure outlet channel in fluid communication with the plurality of total pressure inlet channels so that a second portion of fluid when flowing through the pipeline passes into and through each of the total pressure inlet ports and out of the total pressure outlet channel, a static pressure manifold positioned in the vortex-shedding body and adjacent at least one of the downstream surfaces and having a plurality of static pressure inlet channels aligned with the plurality of static pressure inlet ports in the at least one of the downstream surfaces and a static pressure outlet channel so that a third portion of fluid when flowing through the pipeline passes into and through each of the static pressure inlet ports and out of the static pressure outlet channel, and a differential pressure meter positioned adjacent the vortex-shedding body and including a total pressure inlet positioned to receive fluid flowing through the total pressure outlet channel, a static pressure inlet positioned to receive fluid flowing through the static pressure outlet channel, and a differential pressure converter positioned to receive fluid pressure from the total pressure inlet and the static pressure inlet and to produce a differential pressure meter flow rate signal proportional to density of fluid when flowing through the pipeline. 51. A system as defined in claim 50, wherein the differential pressure meter comprises an averaging pitot tube meter, and wherein the differential pressure converter of the differential pressure meter produces a density dependent volumetric flow rate proportional to the quotient of a true flow rate divided by the square root of the ratio of a base specific gravity and a true specific gravity.52. A system as defined in claim 50, wherein the process density meter includes a signal conditioner responsive to the density signal from the fluid characteristic determiner and positioned to receive a temperature signal from the ambient temperature sensor of the thermal flow meter and a static pressure signal from the differential pressure meter to condition the first density signal to form a temperature and pressure compensated density signal.