Numerical study of the effects of upstream flow condition upon orifice flow meter performance

Journal Article · Mon Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Journal of Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2920114· OSTI ID:5648611

Morrison, G L; Panak, D L; DeOtte, Jr, R E ^[1]

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1. Texas A and M Univ., College Station, TX (United States). Mechanical Engineering Dept.

Recent experimental work has shown that when the mean velocity profile upstream of an orifice plate has a deficit on the centerline and higher velocities at the outer edges of the pipe, the pressure drop across the orifice is greater than if the flow upstream is fully developed. It is proposed that this increase in [Delta]P is directly correlated with the radial distribution of momentum upstream of the orifice plate. In an effort to investigate how the upstream flow condition affects the pressure distribution along the pipe wall and to determine if the hypothesis is correct, Creare.X Inc. 's FLUENT numerical analysis program was used to simulate the effects. Two [beta] ratios (0.50 and 0.75) have been considered with various mean velocity inlet profiles. Inlet profiles include the 1/16th, 1/7th, 1/8th, 1/9th and 1/10th power law power law, uniform flow, and two linear distributions. The results indicate that there is a correlation between the second and third-order moments of momentum and the value of the discharge coefficient. This empirical correlation, after being fully verified by experimental data, can be used to estimate the change in the coefficient of discharge given the inlet velocity profile.

• OSTI ID: 5648611
• Journal Information: Journal of Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering; (United States) Vol. 115:4; ISSN 0892-7219; ISSN JMOEEX
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420205* -- Engineering-- Transport & Storage Facilities-- (1980-)
420400 -- Engineering-- Heat Transfer & Fluid Flow
ACCURACY
DESIGN
FLOW MODELS
FLOWMETERS
FLUID FLOW
FLUID MECHANICS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MATHEMATICS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MECHANICS
METERS
NUMERICAL ANALYSIS
OPENINGS
ORIFICES
PERFORMANCE
PIPELINES
PIPES
PRESSURE MEASUREMENT