Calibrationless rotating Lorentz-force flowmeters for low flow rate applications

Hvasta, M. G.; Dudt, D.; Fisher, A. E.; Kolemen, E.

doi:10.1088/1361-6501/aac3b5

Title: Calibrationless rotating Lorentz-force flowmeters for low flow rate applications

Abstract

A 'weighted magnetic bearing' has been developed to improve the performance of rotating Lorentz-force flowmeters (RLFFs). Experiments have shown that the new bearing reduces frictional losses within a double-sided, disc-style RLFF to negligible levels. Operating such an RLFF under 'frictionless' conditions provides two major benefits. First, the steady-state velocity of the RLFF magnets matches the average velocity of the flowing liquid at low flow rates. This enables an RLFF to make accurate volumetric flow measurements without any calibration or prior knowledge of the fluid properties. Second, due to minimized frictional losses, an RLFF is able to measure low flow rates that cannot be detected when conventional, high-friction bearings are used. As a result, this paper provides a brief background on RLFFs, gives a detailed description of weighted magnetic bearings, and compares experimental RLFF data to measurements taken with a commercially available flowmeter.

Authors:

^[1];

^[1]

Princeton Univ., Princeton, NJ (United States)

Publication Date:: Tue May 29 00:00:00 EDT 2018

Research Org.:: Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE

OSTI Identifier:: 1459562

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-09CH11466

Resource Type:: Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:: Measurement Science and Technology

Additional Journal Information:: Journal Volume: 29; Journal Issue: 7; Journal ID: ISSN 0957-0233

Publisher:: IOP Publishing

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION; low-friction bearings; Lorentz-force velocimetry; flowmeter; liquid metal

Citation Formats


                    Hvasta, M. G., Dudt, D., Fisher, A. E., and Kolemen, E. Calibrationless rotating Lorentz-force flowmeters for low flow rate applications.  United States: N. p., 2018. 
Web.  doi:10.1088/1361-6501/aac3b5.

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                    Hvasta, M. G., Dudt, D., Fisher, A. E., & Kolemen, E. Calibrationless rotating Lorentz-force flowmeters for low flow rate applications.  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6501/aac3b5

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                    Hvasta, M. G., Dudt, D., Fisher, A. E., and Kolemen, E. Tue .  
"Calibrationless rotating Lorentz-force flowmeters for low flow rate applications".  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6501/aac3b5.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1459562.

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@article{osti_1459562,

  title        = {Calibrationless rotating Lorentz-force flowmeters for low flow rate applications},

  author       = {Hvasta, M. G. and Dudt, D. and Fisher, A. E. and Kolemen, E.},

  abstractNote = {A 'weighted magnetic bearing' has been developed to improve the performance of rotating Lorentz-force flowmeters (RLFFs). Experiments have shown that the new bearing reduces frictional losses within a double-sided, disc-style RLFF to negligible levels. Operating such an RLFF under 'frictionless' conditions provides two major benefits. First, the steady-state velocity of the RLFF magnets matches the average velocity of the flowing liquid at low flow rates. This enables an RLFF to make accurate volumetric flow measurements without any calibration or prior knowledge of the fluid properties. Second, due to minimized frictional losses, an RLFF is able to measure low flow rates that cannot be detected when conventional, high-friction bearings are used. As a result, this paper provides a brief background on RLFFs, gives a detailed description of weighted magnetic bearings, and compares experimental RLFF data to measurements taken with a commercially available flowmeter.},

  doi          = {10.1088/1361-6501/aac3b5},

  journal      = {Measurement Science and Technology},

  number       = 7,

  volume       = 29,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {Tue May 29 00:00:00 EDT 2018},

  month        = {Tue May 29 00:00:00 EDT 2018}

}

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Cited by: 5 works

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Figure 1: A depiction of a rotating Lorentz-force flowmeter. In the ‘side view’, the flow is directed out of the page.

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