The initial transient of an organ pipe is known to be of great influence to the perceived sound quality. At the same time, the unsteady process of the tone onset is essentially nonlinear and lacks exact repeatability, so the search for a robust descriptor is in place. Initial transients were recorded using an adjustable flue organ pipe. The blowing pressure and cut-up height were varied. Prony’s method was employed to analyze the results. Utilizing the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) on the standardized exponential model coefficients, it was shown that the transients are well described by just one scalar parameter. Its value is predominantly dependent on the number of important Prony’s components taking part in the transient process (i.e., the overall complexity of the transient signal). A strong correlation was found between the PCA component and the Strouhal number inverse.

The converging-diverging structure is introduced to extend the lower limit of measurement of vortex flowmeters. As a compact device, the converging-diverging vortex flowmeter is proposed and designed, and its performance is studied experimentally. It is found that, first of all, an up to 51% extension of the lower measurement limit can be realized through the converging-diverging structure, compared with conventional vortex flowmeters; second, the converging-diverging vortex flowmeter with a trapezoidal bluff body has a larger Strouhal number and smaller pressure loss. The results suggest that the converging-diverging vortex flowmeter provides an alternative device especially suitable for the measurement of low-velocity fluids.