Measurement characteristics of cone meter with bionic non-smooth surface

Abstract

This study investigates the measurement performance of a cone meter using bionic drag reduction methods. Three types of bionic non-smooth cone structures are designed and their impact on the pressure loss coefficient (ζ) and discharge coefficient (Cd) is analyzed. The results demonstrate that the bionic structures on the cone surface have a significant effect on ζ and Cd. Among the three structures, the riblet structure on the cone surface increases ζ and decreases Cd, which greatly enhances measurement performance. For Reynolds numbers of 1.0 × 105 or higher, the cone meter with riblet-3 structure reduces ζ by 26.7 % and increases Cd by 15.3 %. The measurement accuracy of the cone meter with riblet-3 structure improves to ±1.5 %. The presence of reverse vortices between the ridges of the riblet-structured cone acts as “bearings”, converting sliding friction into rolling friction and achieving pressure loss reduction.