Orifice Meter Performance Downstream of a Tube Bundle Flow Conditioner, Elbows, and a Tee.

摘要

System pipe configurations can produce large flow disturbances that significantly affect the accuracy of orifice meters. Flow conditioners such as the tube bundle are frequently used to remove the effect of upstream disturbances. The flow conditioner can also influence measurement accuracy if improperly located relative to the orifice plate in the orifice meter. Tests were conducted in a 3.8 mu m (150 mu in) Ra surface finish pipe with a tube bundle flow conditioner located at four different positions upstream of an orifice plate. The resulting orifice discharge coefficients are shown for the tube bundle flow conditioner at each of the locations. Changes in the orifice discharge coefficient for orifice plates downstream of three flow disturbances consisting of elbows or a tee were measured. For most of the configurations tested, installing a tube bundle flow conditioner immediately downstream of the disturbances reduced these changes in the discharge coefficient from as much as 2 percent to less than 0.2 percent. Recommendations for future research needs are suggested.