A study of mass flow rate measurement based on the vortex shedding principle

Mass flow rate measurement is very important in the majority of industry processes because the mass of fluid is not affected by ambient temperature and pressure as the volume will be. Conventional mass flow rate is normally derived from the volumetric flow rate multiplied by fluid density. The density can be obtained by a densitometer or calculated according to the temperature and pressure measured by a thermometer and pressure gauge respectively. However the measurement accuracy is not always satisfactory. Flowmeters directly measuring mass flow rate have been studied and developed recently, such as Coriolis and thermal flowmeters. Unfortunately they still have some limits in practical applications. A new method in which mass flow rate can be directly measured based on the vortex shedding principle is presented in this paper. As a vortex flowmeter, von Kàrmàn vortex shedding is generated by a bluff body (vortex shedder), leading to a pressure drop and pressure fluctuation. A single differential pressure sensor is employed to detect the pressure difference between upstream and downstream sides of the vortex shedder. Both vortex shedding frequency and pressure drop are contained from the output signal of the differential pressure sensor, so that the mass flow rate can be obtained from the pressure signal. Numerical simulation has been done to analyze the characteristics of the fluid field and design the measurement device. The Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) codes Fluent were used in the numerical simulation. Experiments were carried out with water and gas, and the results show that this method is feasible and effective to measure the mass flow rate. This method has also robustness to disturbances such as pipe vibration and fluid turbulence.     

差压式涡街质量流量计取压位置的研究

在涡街流量计中，流体通过涡街发生体后会产生压力损失及由旋涡引起的压力波动，根据这一特点，本文提出利用差压检测技术，通过单路差压传感器同时感受由涡街发生体引起的流体双重变化特性，测量流体质量流量的新方法。本文重点对差压检测取压位置进行研究，利用空气和水两种流体介质进行了一系列实验，得到不同取压位置的差压信号与流量关系，确定了能正确测量质量流量的差压取压位置。结果表明，该测量方法结构简单，是测量质量流量的有效方法。     

涡街流量计旋涡上举力系数的研究

在涡街流量计中,频率感测元件是其核心部件,旋涡上举力的大小直接影响到感测元件的灵敏度。本文通过实验与研究给出了比较准确的举力系数,为感测元件的设计提供了依据。     

Experimental verification and numerical simulation of a vortex flowmeter at low Reynolds numbers

This study presents experimental verification and numerical simulations of a vortex flow meter in the Reynolds number range between 8300 and 50,000. A custom-designed bluff body with a wedge back shape was used in the flowmeter. A shedding frequency of the flowmeter was measured in an air duct using a hot-film probe. To evaluate the accuracy of the flowmeter, a measurement uncertainty analysis was performed. Numerical simulations of the vortex flowmeter were performed with the open source code OpenFOAM. Transient simulations of periodic vortex shedding behind the bluff body were performed using different simulation methods depending on the pipe Reynolds number, such as Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS), Large Eddy Simulation (LES) and Unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (URANS) method. The simulated vortex shedding frequencies matched the experimental data very well. Experiments and simulations demonstrated a clear linear dependence of the shedding frequency on the volumetric flow rate over the entire range of Reynolds numbers. In addition, numerical simulations were used to study the main mechanisms of vortex formation and shedding behind the considered bluff body.     

涡街频率检测电路的改进研究

漩涡频率检测是涡街流量计的关键技术之一。正比于流量的涡街频率信号变化范围较宽，对不同的测量介质和测量管道各不相同，在实际应用中并且混杂有各种干扰，因此，设法提高涡街频率的测量精度是一项非常困难但必要的工作。通过研究传统涡街频率检测电路，分析涡街频率信号的特点，在比较各种滤波方法和频率测量方法的基础上，提出通过自适应高阶低通滤波电路来削弱干扰信号，并采用自适应扩展周期方法来测量频率。该方法简单可行，仿真与实验结果表明，改进电路能有效削弱涡街流量信号的干扰，提高漩涡频率测量精度。     

A T-shaped vortex shedder for a vortex flow-meter

A configuration of a T-shaped vortex shedder is developed with the goal of improving the quality of the vortex shedding signal measured. This T-shaped vortex shedder comprises a trapezoidal cylinder which is fixed in shape and an extended plate attached behind whose length is variable. The vortex shedding frequency is deduced from the differential pressure signal measured, which corresponds to the pressure difference resulting from the two sides of the trapezoidal cylinder. By varying the length of the extended plate, the optimal situation is found to be when the length of the extended plate falls in the range of 1.56 to 2.0 times the width of the vortex shedder, when the low-frequency variations embedded in the pressure signal are significantly suppressed.     

基于经典谱估计改进方法的涡街流量计

针对涡街流量计高精度、高量程比的要求,在分析涡街信号及其噪声特点的基础上,提出一种采用自适应采样频率和Welch功率谱估计相结合的涡街信号分析处理方法。该方法首先使用经典功率谱估计的FFT算法计算出信号频率的区间范围,然后将信号通过相应截止频率的低通滤波器以防止发生混叠现象,采用信号抽取的方法降低采样频率从而减小频谱的最小频率分辨率,最后采用Welch功率谱估计的方法进行谱分析提高信噪比、减少谱失真。仿真及实验结果表明:所提出的涡街信号处理方法能有效地抑制噪声,实现高精度的功率谱计算,对于提升和改进涡街流量计的性能有良好的效果。     

数字信号处理技术在科氏质量流量计中的应用

科氏质量流量计是目前应用范围最广、发展速度最快的流量计之一。数字信号处理技术是科氏质量流量计的核心技术,直接决定其测量精度、测量稳定性等性能指标;而流量传感器输出信号的数学模型是信号处理的依据和基础。国内外学者提出了多种信号处理方法,但是,没有根据不同的信号模型和不同的应用场合对各种信号处理方法进行比较和评价。为此,根据不同数字信号处理方法的特征量提取原理,分析了其具有的优缺点。针对科氏质量流量计单相流、批料流与气液两相流测量这3种典型应用场合中存在的关键技术问题,依据随机游动信号模型、突变信号模型和自回归滑动平均(ARMA)信号模型,分别从计算精度、响应速度、收敛性、抗干扰能力和对参数变化的敏感度等方面,对不同信号处理方法进行考核和对比,确定了3种典型应用场合下,解决关键技术问题,性能最佳的数字信号处理方法。     

Response of a dual triangulate bluff body vortex flowmeter to oscillatory flow

In this paper, on an experimental facility, the measurement characteristics of a diameter 50 mm dual triangulate bluff body vortex flowmeter in steady flow and oscillatory flow were investigated. Then, the Hilbert Huang Transformation (HHT) method was used to assess the anti-interference performances and the vortex street stability in oscillatory flow for the dual triangulate bluff body vortex flowmeter and a single bluff body vortex flowmeter. Offline simulation was carried out on the anti-interference performances of the dual triangulate bluff body vortex flowmeter signal noise in oscillatory flow by the method of the EMD-scales filter. The major findings are: (a) in most case, the EMD-scales filter may be as good at de-noising effect for the dual bluff body vortex flowmeter in oscillatory flow than that for the single bluff body vortex flowmeter in oscillatory flow. The vortex street stability in oscillatory flow for the dual bluff body is similar to that for the single bluff body. (b) In some special case, the EMD-scales filter is unable to play a better de-nosing role for the dual bluff body vortex flowmeter in oscillatory flow. The invalid condition of the EMD-scales filter for the dual bluff body vortex flowmeter in oscillatory flow is different to that of the single bluff body vortex flowmeter and it was advanced in this paper. (C) The vortex street stability for the dual bluff body vortex flowmeter is better than that for the single bluff body vortex flowmeter.     

超声波气体流量计检测精度影响因素分析

在天然气的管道运输过程中,提高气体流量测量的精度是提高运输效率、避免安全事故发生的关键技术。利用流体力学仿真（CFD）方法建立组合双弯管及变径管道模型,定量计算修正系数,对双声道超声波流量计结构和安装位置对于管道内气体速度场的影响进行研究。通过仿真得出超声波流量计的最优声道位置,并结合实验验证了仿真结果的可信性。模拟结果表明,双弯管和变径管与超声波流量计的安装位置至少为10D才能保证流体充分流动;通过修正系数随雷诺数的变化情况得出双声道超声波流量计的最优声道位置为距管道截面中心0.25D处。研究结论对于不同性质气体的流量检测同样适用,为工业中气体运输检测精度的提高以及超声波流量计的优化提供了依据。     

气体涡轮流量计性能优化的模拟与实验研究

以TRZ80气体涡轮流量计为研究对象,采用数值模拟与实验测试相结合的方法,提出了前整流器和后导流体的结构优化方案。通过对结构优化前后流量内部流场特征的分析,揭示了流量计结构与性能优化背后确切的流体力学机制。研究结果表明：前整流器和后导流体区域的压降突变与后导流体尾部的涡旋结构和回流现象是影响流量计计量性能的主要机制。优化的流量计结构可以明显减弱压降突变、涡旋结构与回流现象。优化的流量计结构既可以显著降低流量计的压力损失,又可以明显提高流量计的测量精度与稳定性,其压力损失和线性度误差分别降低了约48.58%和32.43%。研究结果有助于为今后开发与量产计量性能更好的气体涡轮流量计提供理论指导和技术支持。     

Note: anti-strong-disturbance signal processing method of vortex flowmeter with two sensors

Some digital signal processing methods have been used to deal with the output signal of vortex flowmeter for extracting the flow rate frequency from the noisy output of vortex flow rate sensor and achieving the measurement of small flow rate. In applications, however, the power of noise is larger than that of flow rate sometimes. These strong disturbances are caused by pipe vibration mostly. Under this condition the previous digital signal processing methods will be unavailable. Therefore, an anti-strong-disturbance solution is studied for the vortex flowmeter with two sensors in this Note. In this solution, two piezoelectric sensors are installed in the vortex probe. One is called the flow rate sensor for measuring both the flow rate and vibration noise, and the other is called the vibration sensor for detecting the vibration noise and sensing the flow rate signal weakly at the same time. An anti-strong-disturbance signal processing method combining the frequency-domain substation algorithm with the frequency-variance calculation algorithm is proposed to identify the flow rate frequency. When the peak number of amplitude spectrum of the flow rate sensor is different from that of the vibration sensor, the frequency-domain subtraction algorithm will be adopted; when the peak number of amplitude spectrum of the flow rate sensor is the same as that of the vibration sensor, the frequency-variance calculation algorithm will be employed. The whole algorithm is implemented in real time by an ultralow power micro control unit (MCU) to meet requirements of process instrumentation. The experimental results show that this method can obtain the flow rate frequency correctly even if the power of the pipe vibration noise is larger than that of the vortex flow rate signal.     

Theoretical study of vertical slug flow measurement by data fusion from electromagnetic flowmeter and electrical resistance tomography

Electrical resistance tomography (ERT) can be used to obtain the conductivity distribution or the phase distribution of gas/liquid flows (e.g. slug flow). Using proper parameter models and flow regime identification models, the measurement of phase size, void fraction, and pattern recognition can be realized. Electromagnetic flowmeters have been used to measure conductive single-phase liquid flows. However, neither ERT nor electromagnetic flowmeters (EMF) can provide accurate measurement of gas/liquid two-phase flows. This paper presents an approach to fuse the information from ERT and an electromagnetic flowmeter. A model for the measurement signal from the electromagnetic flowmeter has been developed based on the flow pattern and the phase distributions, which are obtained from the reconstructed images of ERT, aiming to reduce the measurement error of the electromagnetic flowmeter and enhance the measurement accuracy. Through the simulation research of virtual current density distribution, the feasibility of fusion of electromagnetic flowmeter and ERT to measure gas/liquid two-phase vertical slug flow is verified. By theoretical analysis, the relationship between the output of electromagnetic flowmeter and flow parameters is established. The electrical potential difference of the electromagnetic flowmeter, average velocity, volume flow rate and gas void fraction between the bubble size and location are also investigated. The fusion approach can be used to measure vertical slug flows.     

Static and dynamic characteristics of a hydraulic Wheatstone bridge mass flowmeter

The hydraulic Wheatstone measuring bridge is a potential linear-flowmeter solution for direct mass flow measurements. In a concrete example of the flowmeter, four matched orifices are used as the local flow restrictors in the bridge network. This paper presents an analysis of the nonlinearity of the static measuring characteristics of the hydraulic measuring bridge, which results from the impact of the flow rate on the local pressure loss coefficient of the orifices. The results of the experimental analysis were confirmed with solutions of the physical–mathematical model of the flowmeter. Another objective of this study was to evaluate the suitability of this flowmeter for pulsating flow measurements. For this reason, a dynamic model of the flowmeter was built by upgrading the steady-state flow model with the effects of fluid compressibility and inertia. Since the flowmeter’s characteristic is linear, it was found to be unaffected by the square root errors, which is the case with standard pressure differential flowmeters. On the other hand, the flowmeter’s frequency characteristic exhibited a typical resonance, the value of which depends on the fluid and the dimensional properties of the bridge.     

Analysis of signals from vortex flowmeters

The vortex flowmeter is used to measure the flow of fluids especially where the requirements include wide rangeability and the use of flowmeters with no moving part. It is common knowledge that process conditions affect the operation of a vortex flowmeter, and a customary approach is to introduce flow conditioners so that the measurement output from a vortex flowmeter conforms to specified standards. Some recent studies have shown how to apply signal analysis to the signal from vortex flowmeters to enhance performance, but the signal which has been typically analysed is the pulse train. In this paper,we advocate a new approach which involves detailed analysis of the unconditioned signal from the sensor prior to conventional signal conditioning. The results obtained from this approach open opportunities for the development of alternative signal conditioners and transmitters which not only enhance the quality of the measurement output from a vortex flowmeter but also make it possible to use the flowmeter for monitoring the condition of the plant.     

一种新式差压流量计的设计与应用

该文分析了影响蒸汽流量准确计量的主要因素,介绍了传统的蒸汽流量计如孔板流量计和涡街流量计的使用局限性,详细介绍了一种基于皮托管原理的新式差压式流量计的设计原理、结构特点及其标定方法,通过实例给出了典型蒸汽工况下选择流量计的考虑因素,以及应用这种新式差压式流量计的选型和计算过程。     

脉动流对差压式流量计测量误差影响的研究

基于脉动流场中差压式流量计的计量特性，本文分析了差压式流量计在各种脉动流频率和幅度下的流量测量误差。针对不同脉动频率和脉动幅度的脉动流，在自行设计的实验装置中使用响应时间不同的差压式流量计进行流量测量的研究，获得了流量计响应时间、流体的脉动幅度和频率与流量测量误差间的变化对应关系。研究结果表明，通过减少脉动幅值和缩短流量计的响应时间可有效地减少流量测量误差。     

Particle image velocimetry flowmeter for natural gas applications

Ultrasonic flowmeters are currently used in the measurement of large natural gas flow. However, their high sensitivity to noise signals can cause measurement errors and direct economic losses. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurement technology has several advantages, including convenient installation and maintenance, and strong anti-interference ability, thereby presenting an innovative idea for its application in the field of flow measurement. In this paper, a cyclic integration method is proposed for the application of PIV technology in flow measurement of natural gas. The results show that PIV flowmeter and ultrasonic flowmeter are basically consistent, and the maximum deviation is about 2%. confirming the feasibility of the PIV flowmeter. Therefore, this study provides a theoretical and technical reference for the development of a PIV flowmeter for natural gas.     

基于IIR小波滤波器的涡街流量计数字信号处理系统

涡街流量计被广泛应用于过程工业,但是,由于易受由管道振动和流场扰动等因素干扰,现场测量精度无法保证,测量小流量困难。本文将小波滤波器组应用于涡街流量计信号处理中,研究基于小波滤波的涡街信号处理方法,分析了小波滤波器的幅频特性对信号分析的影响,构造了幅频特性好的IIR型小波滤波器组。本文研制了基于ADSP2181的涡街流量计数字信号处理系统,并进行了气体流量和水流量标定实验,实验结果表明,基于小波滤波的涡街流量计数字信号处理系统有良好的适配性能,性能指标优于常规的涡街流量计处理系统。     

科里奥利质量流量计传感器零点模型研究及应用

科里奥利质量流量计以其直接测量质量流量的特点,成为近年来发展最为迅速的流量仪表之一,已经成为贸易结算的首选计量器具。虽然科里奥利质量流量计的测量精度很高,但是其存在零点漂移的缺陷,降低了仪表的长期稳定性。本文以典型的U型振动管传感器为例,基于振动管的幅频和相频特性,分析了传感器的各阶模态对于工作频率的响应,以此建立了传感器的初始相位模型。通过样机实验证明,该理论模型在应用于薄壁振动管时具有较高的计算精度和适用性,并将科里奥利质量流量计在低温介质测量中的测量误差降低到±0.3%以内,也为抑制科里奥利质量流量计零点漂移提供了理论依据。