Influence of blockage and shape of a bluff body on the performance of vortex flowmeter with wall pressure measurement

Experimental and numerical investigations are carried out with various bluff body shapes to identify an appropriate shape which can be used for vortex flowmeter application. In both the cases vortex shedding frequency is inferred from the fluctuation of wall pressure. The numerical simulations are carried out with cylindrical and triangular bluff bodies to understand the vortex shedding phenomenon and to identify an appropriate turbulence model for this class of flows with wall pressure measurement. The simulations reveal that the k-ε RNG model predicts the Strouhal number closer to the experimental results than other models. The experimental investigations are carried out with several bluff body shapes, such as triangular, trapezoidal, conical, cylindrical and ring shapes, with water as the working medium. In this context, the effects of sampling rate, tap location and blockage effects are explored. The results suggest that the axisymmetric tapping is better than differential pressure tapping in terms of signal amplitude. The non-dimensional location of the static pressure tap is found to be 0.714 times diameter of pipe times blockage. The trapezoidal bluff body is found to be the best among all the bluff bodies investigated in terms of signal amplitude and constancy of Strouhal number. The vortex flowmeter performance is also measured under disturbed flow conditions created by using gate valve and bends. These results are significant because they provide an optimum bluff body shape and blockage, and also present the performance of vortex flow meter under disturbed flow conditions which is rather seldom reported in the literature.     

Comparison of flow characteristics around an equilateral triangular cylinder via PIV and Large Eddy Simulation methods

The flow structures around an equilateral triangular cylinder, which is commonly used as a vortex shedder in the vortex flowmeter, were investigated experimentally and numerically. Flow characteristics such as vorticity contours, patterns of sectional streamlines, velocity vectors, velocity fields, Reynolds stress correlations, Strouhal numbers and drag coefficients were examined using the Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) technique and the Large Eddy Simulation (LES) turbulence model. Experimental studies were performed in an open water channel for Re=2.9×10³, Re=5.8×10³ and Re=1.16×10⁴ based on the equilateral triangle edge. A sharp-tip corner of the cylinder with a triangle cross-section was exposed to the upstream side while the other two sharp-tip corners were placed on the downstream side. Numerical studies were also completed at Reynolds numbers in the range of 2.9×10³≤Re≤1.16×10⁵ to obtain the changes in the Strouhal numbers and drag coefficients. When the results of PIV and LES are considered in the same interval of Reynolds numbers, the maximum and minimum values of each flow pattern were nearly the same. The time-averaged patterns had considerable symmetry with respect to the axis line passing through the sharp-tip corner of the cross-section of the triangular cylinder. The Strouhal number was independent of the Reynolds number and was found to be approximately 0.22. The drag coefficient decreased with increasing Reynolds numbers while increasing the Power Spectral Density (PSD) and the vortex shedding frequency. For the same Reynolds numbers, the experimental and numerical results were in good agreement. Therefore, the LES turbulence model is recommended for applications of flow around this type of bluff body that is generally used in the design of vortex flowmeters to generate vortex shedding.     

低雷诺数下涡街流量计线性度的试验

在DN25水流量标准装置上对装有梯形漩涡发生体的涡街流量计在低雷诺数下进行试验研究,利用数字信号处理方法(频谱分析方法)得到涡街脱落频率,较传统模拟信号处理方法在保证较好线性度的基础上,有效地扩展了测量下限。绘制雷诺数—仪表系数曲线,发现梯形发生体在低雷诺数下仪表系数K呈递减趋势,当Re>2 000时K趋于常数,这与圆柱发生体在低雷诺数时曲线递增的趋势截然相反。通过分析得知,管道内流速分布的影响、发生体形状的影响和流速与频率关系的影响是导致上述变化趋势的3个主要影响因素。     

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.     

Numerical investigation of wake flow control by a splitter plate

Unsteady separated flow around a square cylinder is simulated by using vortex tracing method to investigate the wake flow control by a splitter plate attached to the base of a bluff body. The numerical method is evaluated with selected numerical parameters for the case without the splitter plate. Then the method is applied to computations for different splitter plate lengths. Instantaneous flow patterns are scrutinized to see how the splitter plate affects the vortex formation behind the body and the downstream shedding. It is confirmed that the drag and the frequency are significantly reduced by the splitter plate, suppressing vortex shedding in the wake.     

A new approach to detection of vortices using ultrasound

The measurement principle of vortex flowmeter is based on von Karman vortex shedding phenomenon. Frequency of vortices, behind the bluff body, is proportional to the mean flow velocity. There are different ways of detection of vortices, and different sensors are used (presser sensors, capacitive sensors, thermo-resistance sensors, ultrasonic sensors, etc.). Proposed method to vortex identification, presented in this paper is based on simultaneous detection of pair of vortices with opposite circulation, by means of two pairs of ultrasonic transducers. A beam of ultrasound, from ultrasonic transmitter to ultrasonic receiver is transmitted perpendicularly to the vortex street. The received ultrasonic signal is amplitude and phase modulated. Frequency of demodulated signal is equal to the frequency of vortices. This technique allows a number of advantages comparing to conventional solutions: reduction, or elimination of noises caused by installation vibration and disturbances in the flow, higher sensor sensitivity, which as a result leads to a possibility of a reduction of the bluff body size, i.e. reduction of the pressure drop on the flow meter, increase of the measurement range in the low flow region, the possibility of redundant operation of the flow meter, reduced measurement uncertainty, instrument technology improvements, improved reliability of the instrument, assured improved statement of complete uncertainty contributions, improved metrology of the equipment as such and calibration procedures that contribute to measuring capabilities etc. For experimental testing a prototype vortex flowmeter of a nominal inner diameter (ID) 50 mm is developed. A cylindrical bluff body for vortex shedding is used. Ultrasonic transducers based on piezo-crystal PZT-5A, inserted in the wall of the vortex meter casing are utilized. The testing of prototype ultrasonic vortex flowmeter is realized on the calibration station on the water. The results at the testing point to the possibility of measuring flow of liquid fluids at velocities less than 0.5 m/s, with an uncertainty better than ±1%.     

Numerical simulation of flow past rectangular cylinders with different aspect ratios using the incompressible lattice Boltzmann method

This paper presents a numerical study of a uniform flow past a rectangular cylinder using the incompressible lattice Boltzmann method (ILBM). Firstly, we use the ILBM to simulate the flow past a square cylinder symmetrically placed in a two-dimensional channel and results are validated against the well-resolved results obtained using finite-difference method and finite-volume method. Secondly, the effects of the aspect ratio defined as R = width/height on the fluid forces, vortex shedding frequency and the flow structures in the wake are investigated. Aspect ratios ranging from 0.15 to 4.00 and four Reynolds numbers Re = 100, 150, 200 and 250 are selected for the investigation. The results show that the effects of aspect ratio on physical quantities such as drag and lift coefficients, Strouhal number and the vortex shedding mechanism are very notable in the range between 0 and 2. In general, the drag coefficient decreases with the aspect ratio and the decreasing rate is more distinct in the range of 0.15 ≤ R ≤ 2.0. There is no local maximum found at around R = 0.6 in the drag coefficient as reported for higher Reynolds numbers in the literature. However the root-mean-square value of the lift coefficient shows a maximum value at R ≈ 0.5 for all Reynolds numbers selected. The variation of Strouhal number with R appears to be different for four selected Reynolds numbers. Especially for Re = 250, a discontinuity in St, as has been observed for higher Reynolds numbers, is observed at around R = 1.45 where multiple peaks are found in the result of Fourier spectrum analysis of the lift force and irregular vortex shedding behavior with no fixed shedding frequency is observed from the instantaneous vorticity contours. Such discontinuity is not observed for Re = 100, 150 and 200. The present results using the LBM are compared with some existing experimental data and numerical studies. The comparison shows that the LBM can capture the characteristics of the bluff body flow well and is a useful tool for bluff body flow studies.     

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.     

Numerical investigation of fluid flow past a square cylinder using upstream,downstream and dual splitter plates

A two-dimensional numerical study is carried out to analyze the drag reduction and vortex shedding suppression behind a square cylinder in presence of splitter plate arranged in upstream, downstream and both upstream and downstream location at low Reynolds number (Re = 160). Computations are performed using a Single relaxation time lattice Boltzmann method (SRT-LBM). Firstly, the code is validated for flow past a single square cylinder. The obtained results are compared to those available in literature and found to be in good agreement. Numerical simulations are performed in the ranges of 1 ≤ L ≤ 4 and 0 ≤ g ≤ 7, where L and g are the length of splitter plate and gap spacing between the splitter plate and main square cylinder, respectively. The effect of these parameters on the vortex shedding frequency, time-trace analysis of drag and lift coefficients, power spectra analysis of lift coefficient, vorticity contours visualization and force exerted on the cylinder are quantified together with the observed flow patterns around the main cylinder and within the gap spacings. The observed results are also compared with a single square cylinder without splitter plate. We found that at some combinations of L and g, the mean drag coefficient and Strouhal number reach either its maximum or minimum value. It is found that the drag is reduced up to 62.2 %, 13.3 % and 70.2 % for upstream, downstream and dual splitter plates, respectively as compared to a single square cylinder (without splitter plate). In addition, in this paper we also discussed the applications of SRT-LBM for suppression of vortex shedding and reduction of the drag coefficients.     

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。     

双钝体涡街流量计流体振动特性的试验研究

研究了双钝体旋涡脱离的流体动力学特性以及利用双钝体增强流体振动的最佳组合结构。给出了多种钝体组合结构的斯特劳哈尔数的试验结果,表明双钝体结构具有常定的斯特劳哈尔数。用50 mm口径涡街流量计进行的试验证明,双钝体组合在一定的条件下能获得理想的旋涡重叠,从而增强流体的振动。在钝体的轴对称点上,还观察到强度和频率相同,相位相差180°的流体振动点,利用优化的双钝体结构和差动传感技术,研制出小流量灵敏度和抗干扰性能很好的新型旋涡流量计。     

Control of laminar vortex shedding behind a circular cylinder using tabs

Small, thin flat plates (called tabs hereafter) are attached to the upper and lower surfaces of a circular cylinder to control vortex shedding and reduce the mean drag and lift fluctuations at the Reynolds number of 100. We vary the location and size of the tabs and the distance between the adjacent tabs. The maximum amount of drag reduction by the tabs is 17%. It is found that the tabs perturb twodimensional vortex shedding and introduce spanwise mismatch of vortex shedding, which weakens the strength of vortex shedding or even annihilates vortex shedding. The present result suggests that these tabs are an effective passive device for the control of vortex shedding behind two-dimensional bluff bodies.     

Study on the unsteady wakes past a square cylinder near a wall

Experimental and numerical studies on the unsteady wake field behind a square cylinder near a wall were conducted to find out how the vortex shedding mechanism is correlated with gap flow. The computations were performed by solving unsteady 2-D Incompressible Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes equations with a newly developed ε-SST turbulence model for more accurate prediction of large separated flows. Through spectral analysis and the smoke wire flow visualization, it was discovered that velocity profiles in a gap region have strong influences on the formation of vortex shedding behind a square cylinder near a wall. From these results. Strouhal number distributions could be found, where the transition region of the Strouhal number was atG/D=0.5 - 0.7 above the critical gap height. The primary and minor shedding frequencies measured in this region were affected by the interaction between the upper and the lower separated shear layer, and minor shedding frequency was due to the separation bubble on the wall. It was also observed that the position(y/G) and the magnitude of maximum average velocity (u/u∞) in the gap region affect the regular vortex shedding as the gap height increases.     

Vortex wake transit time measurements for flow metering

A method of flow measurement is described based on using a vortex wake as a flow tracer shed from a low-blockage-ratio bluff body, the velocity of which is measured by cross-correlation. Preliminary comparisons are made between measurement iof the vortex shedding frequency and the vortex wake transit time between the two ultrasonic beams to determine the flow rates. Whilst preliminary results are confined to a 50 mm diameter sensing head, there is no upper limit to pipe size using the same suitably extended bluff body.     

The effect of serrated fins on the flow around a circular cylinder

An experimental study is performed to investigate the characteristics of near wake flow behind a circular cylinder with serrated fins using a constant temperature anemometer and flow visualization. Various vortex shedding modes are observed. Fin height and pitch are closely related to the vortex shedding frequency after a certain transient Reynolds number. The through-velocity across the fins decreases with increasing fin height and decreasing fin pitch. Vortex shedding is affected strongly by the velocity distribution just on top of the finned tube. The weaker gradient of velocity distribution is shown as increasing the freestream velocity and the fin height, while decreasing the fin pitch. The weaker velocity gradient delays the entrainment flow and weakens its strength. As a result of this phenomenon, vortex shedding is decreased. The effective diameter is defined as a virtual circular cylinder diameter taking into account the volume of fins, while the hydraulic diameter is proposed to cover the effect of friction by the fin surfaces. The Strouhal number based upon the effective diameters seems to correlate well with that of a circular cylinder without fins. After a certain transient Reynolds number, the trend of the Strouhal number can be estimated by checking the ratio of effective diameter to inner diameter. The normalized velocity and turbulent intensity distributions with the hydraulic diameter exhibit the best correlation with the circular cylinder’s data.     

Numerical simulations and experimental studies on a target fluidic flowmeter

The aims of this work were to determine the flow characteristics of a target fluidic flowmeter by both experimental studies and numerical simulations, and thence to understand the flow phenomena in such a flowmeter. Experimental studies and numerical visualizations on the target flowmeter for water measurements are reported in this paper. Computational fluid dynamics using the software FLUENT were used in the numerical simulations and also to determine the best position to place the hot-film sensor for the detection of the maximum velocity oscillation signals in the flowmeter. The effect of the distance from the inlet nozzle to the target was studied. The flowmeter exhibited the least variations in the Strouhal number versus Reynolds number relationship when the ratio of the distance between the nozzle and target to the nozzle width (x₁/d) was 25.5 for Reynolds number greater than 500.     

Performance evaluation of piezoelectric and differential pressure sensor for vortex flowmeters

Piezoelectric and transient differential pressure sensors are two among the most widely employed sensors for vortex flowmeter application. The present study evaluates the performance of these two techniques under fully developed and disturbed flow conditions. Firstly, the location of the transient differential pressure sensor is optimized to obtain high amplitude signals and good linearity in Strouhal number. Empirical mode decomposition method in combination with autocorrelation decay is successfully employed at high Reynolds numbers to identify the vortex shedding frequency in presence of hydrodynamic noise. The performance of the differential pressure sensor deteriorates significantly under disturbed flow conditions at low Reynolds number due to the presence of low frequency components. This deterioration in the signal quality limits the lower operating range of the flowmeter with differential pressure sensor. The output signals of the piezoelectric sensor and differential pressure sensor under no flow condition are compared to obtain the background noise due to piping vibrations and electrical interferences. These results will help a designer to suggest robust signal processing algorithms for vortex frequency detection.     

低含气率气液两相流涡街特性研究

气液两相涡街现象广泛存在于生产实际中,由于相间作用,研究变得较为复杂。通过数值模拟和实流试验,对水平管低含气率情况下气相对两相涡街的影响进行研究。建立三维计算流体力学（Computational fluid dynamics, CFD）仿真模型,采用VOF多相流模型和RNG k-e 湍流模型,模拟气液两相钝体绕流。仿真与试验结果在定量频率上具有良好的一致性。结合仿真与试验结果,从近尾迹流场与涡拓扑、斯特劳哈尔数两方面,对不同含气率两相涡街特性进行对比研究。结果表明,在稳定涡街范围内,随着气相含率增大,对涡街起重要作用的滞止区长度增大,导致斯特劳哈尔数线性减小;同时,涡街周期性和信号质量变差,涡街能量降低,这是由于涡中心吸入密度小、速度大的气泡,造成涡的旋转能量降低,进而影响涡街的稳定性。     

The mapping of vortex fields around single and dual bluff bodies

The development and use of a system to measure important parameters of the vortex field in a coordinate grid around several single bluff bodies and dual bluff body combinations are described. Two hot wire sensors were used: a reference sensor at a fixed position and a moving sensor with position coordinates adjusted by using computer control. The strength, frequency and regularity of the vortex shedding are found from the auto-power spectral density of the moving sensor signal. The phase difference between moving and reference sensor signals is found from the cross-power spectral density function between the signals. The results are presented as maps of vortex parameters plotted as a function of sensor position coordinates. The main features of these maps, including the enhancement of vortex shedding from certain dual bluff body combinations, is then discussed.     

Computationally lean algorithm of novel optimal FIR adaptive filter for vortex signal extraction

In a vortex flowmeter vortices are generated by a bluff body, inserted in the path of flow, which has a piezoelectric sensor embedded in it. This piezosensor develops a signal having a fundamental frequency that is proportional to flow. The flow measurement relies completely on extraction of true vortex signal and estimation of the correct frequency. A novel adaptive FIR filter has been designed and implemented using low power computational resource (8.25 mW), which gives better results than an existing contemporary system when tested on an industrial flow rig. Further more a comparative study of autocorrelation, EMD Scales filter and proposed algorithm is carried on the good and bad vortex signals. From this comparative study it is seen that proposed algorithm is effective for bad vortex signals and low flowrates where vortex signals are weak.