SHOOT flowmeter and pressure transducers

Abstract

A venturi flowmeter has been designed and constructed for the Superfluid Helium On-Orbit Transfer (SHOOT) experiment. The calibration results obtained from the SHOOT venturi demonstrate the ability of the flowmeter to meet the requirements of the SHOOT experiment. Flow rates as low as 20 dm 3 h −1 and as high as 800 dm 3 h −1 have been measured with the flowmeter. The pressure drop in the flowmeter is measured by two Validyne differential pressure transducers. The ranges of the two transducers are 0.86 kPa (0.125 p.s.i.d.) and 8.62 kPa (1.25 p.s.i.d.). The low range transducer measures flow rates less than 200 dm 3 h −1, whereas the high range transducer measures flow rates greater than 200 dm 3 h −1. The repeatability of the flowmeter at the nominal flow rate of 500 dm 3 h −1 is within ±1% of the flow rate. Performances of the SHOOT differential and absolute pressure transducers, which have undergone calibration and vibration tests, are also included. Throughout the tests, the responses of the transducers remained linear and repeatable to within ±1% of the full scales of the transducers.