Experimental and CFD investigation of 100 mm size cone flow elements

This paper presents performance characteristics of 100 mm line size cone flow elements having beta ratios of 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7 and 0.8. A magnetic flow meter is used as a reference standard for flow measurement in vertical test section. A series of experiments have been conducted using water at in-house Flow Calibration Facility (FCF) to cover the Reynolds number ranging from 20,000 to 200,000. The performance characteristics of 100 mm line size cone flow elements with different beta values have been evaluated experimentally. It is found that the discharge coefficient of the cone flow element is nearly independent of the specified range of Reynolds number. Testing of the cone flow element in accordance with new API 5.7 is carried out at flow calibration facility. The testing requirements in the standard explain the conditioning effect of the cone flow element having gate valve disturbance upstream of the cone at various locations. The effect of the upstream velocity profile has been investigated by placing a gate valve upstream of the cone flow element at a distance of 0D and 28D and performing experiments at 25%, 50% and 100% opening of gate valve. The value of the discharge coefficient is not affected when the cone is placed at a distance of 0D and for 100% opening of gate valve. The uncertainty results of the cone testing are discussed. For studying pressure and velocity distributions, cone elements are modeled using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code PHOENICS. Pressure and velocity profiles for different sizes of cone elements are plotted. From the pressure profile, it can be seen that the pressure recovery downstream of the cone is within a distance of 3D. The velocity profile downstream of the cone signifies the use of flow element as a signal conditioner. For measurement of flow through a 100 mm line, differential pressure across the cone is measured using a Differential Pressure Transmitter (DPT). Experiments were repeated by replacing the cone element for obtaining different ββ values.

► It is found that the accuracy of cone flow elements for 100 mm line size is better than +/−0.5%.
► Discharge coefficient (CdCd) of five cones of different betas, is nearly the same within R=2E4R=2E4 to 2E52E5.
► With upstream straight length of 0D and 25% opening of the gate valve, CdCd varies by 3%.
► CFD and experimental CdCd for 100 NB cone, were found to be different by 3.7% maximum.
► CFD results indicate that the pressure recovery downstream of the cone takes place at 3D length.