The smart-orifice meter: A mini head meter for volume flow measurement

Differential pressure based flow meters generally consist of a how restrict ion element which generates a differential pressure and a pressure transduc er, externally piped to the restriction, which measures the flow related di fferential pressure. The smart-orifice mini head meter presented takes adva ntage of silicon technology by incorporating a differential pressure micros ensor. In contrast to conventional head meters, it represents a single comp act and economic device for general flow meter applications, in particular where small size is of concern. Computational fluid dynamics analyses were applied to develop a non-standard orifice design and prototypes of the smar t-orifice were fabricated. The performance of the mini head meter in water flow measurement was determined in a computer supported test bench facility . It was compared to the results predicted by the simulation, as well as to a conventional head meter arrangement with externally mounted pressure tra nsducer, including measurements with water at elevated temperature and diff erent absolute line pressures. The results are very promising and verify th e competitiveness of the smart-orifice as a mini head meter. (C) 1999 Elsev ier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.