Analysis of swirl, viscosity and temperature effects on turbine flowmeters

Abstract

This paper shows that swirl has a great influence on turbine meter characteristics and the error per degree of swirl is about 2.5%. It also demonstrates that the viscosity effect on the turbine meter is not correlated by Reynolds' number especially at high viscosities. Range of viscosity covered is 1-400 centipoise. Temperature effects were shown to be better correlated using an empirical relation based on pulses per unit mass flow rather than pulses per unit volumetric flow. Temperature range covered is 20-60°C. A theoretical model has been proposed which gives a fair agreement with experimental results provided that the changes in the axial velocity profile with swirl are taken into consideration. The same model has been used to explain the effects of viscosity and temperature.