Experimental investigation of the installation effects on the Venturi flow meter performance (original) (raw)

Accuracy and precision of flow meters are the most important metrological parameters in most industries dealing with increasingly expensive fluids. The accuracy of these devices depends mainly on their position in a pipe network. Pipe fittings such as valves, bends and other fixtures generate turbulence and swirl and distort the flow distribution in the pipe. The disturbance has been shown to alter significantly the measurement performances of the meters. In this paper we present results of an experimental investigation on the effects of non-standards operating conditions (axisymetric and swirling flows) on the accuracy of the Venturi and the orifice flow meters. The results showed that the error caused by such non-standards operating conditions can be very important and are well beyond the tolerated error limit by the existing international standards.