Numerical Investigation and Experimental Validation of Different Air Flow Conditioners using Up - and Down - Stream Pipeline

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine whether it is possible to reduce the upstream and downstream length of a measuring pipeline by installing different types of air flow conditioners. The main goal is to investigate the distance position of these flow conditioners and thus analyze their impact on flow conditions within the pipeline. To improve the current conditions in the pipeline, an analysis was performed of how measurement accuracy was impacted by installing different types of air flow conditioners. Measurement accuracy would also be improved. The preliminary analysis included two different types of flow conditioners: Zanker and NEL. Both were inserted into a measuring pipeline for measuring velocity field and profiles, and thus reduce uncertainty during measurements. A CFD model was built for each type of the air flow conditioner that simulated its impact on velocity fields in the measuring pipeline using the ANSYS Fluent software package. Numerical results of velocity profiles were validated and compared with experimental result. The Zanker flow conditioner was selected for the installation in the measuring pipeline due to better results compared to NEL. Based on the numerical results, the air flow conditioner was optimized and the most suitable conditioner was selected, in this case D/10-V3.