How to design a new flow meter from scratch

Abstract

The idea of this chapter is to base a new pipe flow meter on known fluid mechanics and mechanics from the beginning rather than to explore the underlying physics after the event. Our new method relies on the well-known drag force on a cylindrical body and the force measurement by a load cell (Drag Force Flow Meter: DFFM). By means of an upstream screen the meter is prepared to axial velocity profile distortions and, by the way the force is measured, swirl is invalidated. Tests with various pipe installations demonstrate the main features and the error bar to be expected. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2005.