Systems and methods for measuring low speed fluid flow
AssigneeToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
InventorsErcan M. Dede, Yuqing Zhou, Feng Zhou, Danny Lohan
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Abstract
Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method fluid flow measurements which include a pressure transducer and a flexible tube. The pressure transducer is tuned to measure flow speeds having a Reynolds number less than 100 and include an inlet. The flexible tube has a first end fluidly coupled to the inlet and a second end positioned adjacent to and in fluid communication with a plurality of fluid outlets of a microchannel flow structure. Each of the plurality of fluid outlets has a cross section defining an outlet area. The second end has a cross section defining a flexible tube area that is larger than the outlet area.
Claims8
A fluid flow velocity measurement apparatus, comprising:
- a flexible tube having an open end in fluid communication with a plurality of fluid outlets of a microchannel flow structure, each of the plurality of fluid outlets having a cross section defining an outlet area, the open end having a cross section defining a flexible tube area that is larger than the outlet area of each fluid outlet;
- a pressure transducer tuned to measure fluid speeds having a Reynolds number less than 100 and having an inlet fluidly coupled to the flexible tube such that fluid flowing from the plurality of fluid outlets are captured by the pressure transducer and a signal corresponding to a pressure of the fluid is generated;
- and
- a controller configured to receive an experimental pressure value generated as a result of the signal generated by the pressure transducer, determine an aggregated average differential pressure of the fluid, and calculate a corrected flow velocity of the fluid based on the aggregated average differential pressure by:
- determining a fluid velocity of the fluid at an outlet measuring portion,
- applying Bernoulli's equation using a model pressure to determine a calculated velocity,
- determining a correction factor based on the fluid velocity and the calculated velocity, and
- applying the correction factor to the experimental pressure value.
A method for measuring fluid flow velocity, comprising:
- translating a flexible tube to be adjacent to and in fluid communication with a portion of a plurality of fluid outlets, each one of the plurality of fluid outlets having a cross section defining an outlet area, the flexible tube having a cross section defining a flexible tube area that is larger than the outlet area of each fluid outlet;
- receiving, via a pressure transducer tuned to measure fluid speeds having a Reynolds number less than 100, a portion of a fluid flow from the portion of the plurality of fluid outlets via the flexible tube;
- generating, by the pressure transducer, a signal corresponding to a pressure of the fluid;
- determining, by a controller, an experimental pressure value of the portion of the fluid flow based on the signal;
- determining, by the controller, an aggregated average differential pressure of the fluid;
- and
- calculating, by the controller, a corrected flow velocity of the fluid flow based on the aggregated average differential pressure by:
- determining a fluid velocity of the fluid at an outlet measuring portion,
- applying Bernoulli's equation using a model pressure to determine a calculated velocity,
- determining a correction factor based on the fluid velocity and the calculated velocity, and
- applying the correction factor to the experimental pressure value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.