Slotted orifice flowmeter
AssigneeThe Texas A&M University System
InventorsKenneth R. Hall, Gerald L. Morrison, James C. Holste
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flow impedance device is provided for an obstruction flowmeter for determining the flow rate of a compressible or incompressible fluid in a conduit. The flowmeter has means for measuring the temperature and pressure of the fluid as well as the pressure differential across the flow impedance device, and further means for computing a flow rate from the measured pressures. The flow impedance device includes a plate having a plurality of elongated openings arranged in a predetermined pattern. The plate is installed generally transversely in the conduit to force the fluid to flow through the plurality of elongated openings.
Claims30
In a flowmeter for determining the flow rate of a fluid in a conduit having a cross-sectional geometry and area, the flowmeter having means for measuring the pressure and temperature of the fluid as well as the pressure differential across apparatus for modifying fluid flow, and further means for computing a flow rate from the measured pressures, the apparatus for modifying fluid flow comprising:
- a plate having the same geometry and substantially the same area as the cross-sectional geometry and area of the conduit, the plate defining a plurality of elongated openings, the plate being installed generally transversely in the conduit and thereby forcing the fluid flow through the plurality of elongated openings, wherein a first series of the elongated openings are positioned in an inner circle and a second series of the elongated openings are positioned in a ring concentric to the inner circle, wherein a first ratio of the combined area of the first series of elongated openings to the area of the inner circle is substantially the same as a second ratio of the combined area of the second series of elongated openings to the area of the ring.
In a flowmeter for determining the flow rate of a compressible or incompressible non-homogeneous or homogeneous fluid in a conduit having a circular cross-section and area, the flowmeter having means for measuring the pressure of the fluid on both the upstream and downstream sides of a flow impedance device, and further means for computing a flow rate from the measured pressures, the flow impedance device comprising:
- a circular plate having at least the same area as the outside cross-sectional area of the conduit, the circular plate having a plurality of elongated passageways, the circular plate being installed generally transversely in the conduit and thereby forcing the fluid flow through the plurality of passageways in a uniform manner, wherein a first set of the passageways is arranged in an inner circle and a second set of the passageways is arranged in a first ring concentric to the inner circle, wherein a ratio between the combined area of the first set to the area of the inner circle is substantially equal to a ratio of the combined area of the second set to the area of the first ring.
In a flowmeter for determining the flow rate of an homogeneous or non-homogeneous fluid in a conduit having a circular cross-sectional and area, the flowmeter having means for measuring the pressure of the fluid on both the upstream and downstream sides of a flow impedance device, and further means for computing a flow rate from the measured pressures, the flow impedance device comprising:
- a circular plate having at least the same area as the cross-sectional area of the conduit, the circular plate having a plurality of narrow passageways, a first series of the passageways located in an inner circle, a second series of the passageways located in a ring concentric to the inner circle, a ratio of the combined area of the first series to the area of the inner circle substantially equal to the combined area of the second series to the area of the ring, the circular plate being installed generally transversely in the conduit and thereby forcing the fluid flow through the plurality of narrow passageways in a uniformly distributed manner and creating a pressure differential across the upstream and downstream sides of the circular plate, each of the plurality of passageways having a fixed area, the area of each passageway being substantially the same throughout the thickness of the plate.
A method for measuring the flow rate of a fluid in a conduit, comprising the steps of:
- creating a flow impedance in the conduit by forcing the fluid to flow through a plurality of narrow openings defined by a plate, a first set of the openings distributed within an inner circle, a second set of the openings distributed within a ring concentric to the inner circle, wherein a ratio of the combined area of the first set to the area of the inner circle is substantially the same as a ratio of the combined area of the second set to the area of the ring;
- measuring the pressure and temperature of the fluid;
- measuring the pressure differential of the fluid across the flow impedance;
- and
- computing the flow rate from the measurements.
A flowmeter for determining the rate of a fluid flow in a conduit, the flowmeter having a flow impedance device for conditioning the fluid flow, the flow impedance device comprising a plate defining a plurality of elongated openings arranged in an inner circle and at least one ring concentric to the inner circle, the plate being installed generally transversely in the conduit and thereby forcing the fluid flow through the plurality of elongated openings, wherein a ratio of the combined area of a first set of the openings in the inner circle to the area of the inner circle is substantially equal to a ratio of the combined area of a second set of the openings in a ring to the area of the ring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.