Application of averaging bidirectional flow tube for measurement of single-phase flow rate in a piping system

• Published in: Journal of mechanical science and technology Vol. 23; no. 3; pp. 758 - 767
• Main Authors: Kang, Kyoung-Ho, Yun, Byong-Jo, Euh, Dong-Jin, Baek, Won-Pil
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers 01.03.2009; Springer Nature B.V; 대한기계학회
• Subjects: Bidirectional; Calibration; Computational fluid dynamics; Control; Design optimization; Dynamical Systems; Engineering; Exact sciences and technology; Flows in ducts, channels, nozzles, and conduits; Fluid dynamics; Focusing; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Industrial and Production Engineering; Instrumentation for fluid dynamics; Linearity; Measuring instruments; Mechanical Engineering; Physics; Single-phase flow; Tubes; Vibration; 기계공학; Flow analysis; Averaging bidirectional flow tube (BDFT); Calibration test; Fluid mechanics; Averaging method; Pipe flow; Computational fluid dynamics; Reynolds number; Flow measurement; Pitch angle; Calibration; Design process; Piping; Focusing; Flowmeters; Incidence angle; Flowmetry; Single phase flow; Pipes
• ISSN: 1738-494X; 1976-3824
• DOI: 10.1007/s12206-009-0208-8

A new instrument, an averaging bidirectional flow tube (BDFT), is proposed to measure single-phase flow rates. This averaging BDFT has unique measuring characteristics foremost among which is the capability to measure bidirectional flow and insensitivity of the fluid attack angle. Single phase calibration tests were conducted to demonstrate the performance of the averaging BDFT. Likewise, to enhance the applicability of the averaging BDFT on various flow conditions, flow analyses using CFD code were performed focusing on design optimization of the BDFT. The calibration test results indicated that this averaging BDFT has a linearity within 0.5 % in the Reynolds (Re) number range of above 10,000 where it is meaningful in terms of application. The flow analyses results demonstrate a good linearity of the averaging BDFT with various design features. Therefore, averaging BDFT can be applied for measurement of flow rates within a wide range of flow conditions.