Multiple tap sets to improve Venturi flowmeters performance characteristics with disturbed flow

Abstract

Venturi flowmeters are commonly used to accurately measure fluid flows in piped systems. The performance of a Venturi flowmeter can be affected when the flowmeter is installed in close proximity to a flow disturbance such as a valve, elbow, or pipe fitting. The presence of an upstream flow disturbance causes a non‐uniform velocity profile to enter the flowmeter and may adversely influence the pressure differential measure at the meter's pressure taps. This study investigated how hydraulically averaging pressure measurements from multiple inlet and throat tap sets would improve or stabilize the Venturi performance. Laboratory experiments and computational fluid dynamics were tested with several flow disturbances and a wide range of sizes and flow rates. Multiple tap sets on 2‐in. and 12‐in. diameter Venturi flowmeters were tested. The results of the study showed that the variation in the flow measurement was significantly decreased when the number of pressure taps was increased.