Effect of Installation Angle of Ultrasonic Flow Meter on Water Velocity Measurement in Pipe

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to study the effect of installation angle of ultrasonic flow meter on the water velocity measurement in a pipe. The path angles of 45º, 55º, 65º, 75º, and 85ºwere performed in this study. The velocities were estimated by CFD techniques using the realizable k-ε model and measured by a transit time ultrasonic flow meter, and then they are compared with the results obtained from weighing method (ISO 4185). It was found that velocities estimated from CFD flow simulation at various path angles and measured from ultrasonic flow meter had a similar trend. The more difference of path angle away from the recommended specification was set, the more error of velocity measurement was obtained. The velocities at the path angles of 65ºand 85ºwere almost the same because they had an equal difference of path angle from the one that suggested in the specification. The simulated results from CFD had much error than the measured velocities of ultrasonic flow meter, especially at the long distance of path length or at a small path angle. This needed to be compensated with the correction factor.