Flow distribution method and apparatus reducing downstream turbulence

A method of reducing turbulence downstream of a partially opened valve in a pipeline comprising the step of:

• a) positioning a valve in a pipeline wherein the valve has a fully open position which aligns a valve element and passage through said valve element with the pipeline, and wherein the valve element moves to a partially open position creating turbulence at a specific portion of the pipeline cross sectional area downstream of the partially open valve;
• b) positioning a plurality of non-parallel, elongate small tubes with the inlet ends thereof located in the specific portion of the pipeline cross sectional area so that turbulent fluid flow downstream of the partially open valve is directed into the plurality of small tubes;
• and
• c) routing the tubes along the pipeline so that the relative cross sectional position of each tube within the pipeline changes between the inlet end and the outlet end to thereby smooth the turbulent flow to laminar flow.

For use with a turbulence creating valve or device creating turbulence in fluid flowing in a pipeline, a system for suppressing fluid flow turbulence comprising:

• a) an elongate pipe section adapted to be serially connected downstream of a turbulence creating device;
• b) a plurality of non-parallel, small tubes up to the number N, wherein N is a whole number positive integer, and
• c) means supporting said small tubes so that
• (1) inlet ends of said small tubes are positioned to intercept turbulent flow downstream of said turbulence creating device;
• (2) outlet ends of said small tubes are positioned to discharge the flow therefrom across the entire cross sectional area of the pipeline;
• and
• (3) the mid portions of said tubes are routed along said pipe section.

For use with a turbulence creating valve or device creating turbulence in fluid flowing in a pipeline, a system for suppressing fluid flow turbulence comprising:

• a) an elongate pipe section adapted to be serially connected downstream of a turbulence creating a device, the elongate pipe section having a central portion which is larger in diameter than the end portions thereof and the end portions are sized to connect serially in the pipeline;
• b) a plurality of small tubes up to the number N, wherein N is a whole number positive integer, and
• c) means supporting said small tubes so that
• (1) inlet ends of said small tubes are positioned to intercept turbulent flow downstream of said turbulence creating device;
• (2) outlet ends of said small tubes are positioned to discharge the flow therefrom across the entire cross sectional area of the pipeline;
• and
• (3) the mid portions of said tubes are routed along said pipe section.