GAS FLOW CONDITIONER IN THE FLOW BEND, ESPECIALLY FOR ULTRASONIC GAS METER

Abstract

A gas flow conditioner in the flow bend in an ultrasonic flow meter has at least one longitudinal dividing plate provided in an inner space of the flow bend. The flow bend can be provided with an inlet curved section, a middle straight section, and an outlet curved section, wherein axes of the inlet curved section and the outlet curved section are in a parallel direction and connected to a pipe opening of size DN.

Claims

1. A gas flow conditioner in a flow bend in an ultrasonic flow meter, wherein at least one longitudinal dividing plate is provided in an inner space of the flow bend.

2. The gas flow conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the flow bend is provided with an inlet curved section, a middle straight section and an outlet curved section, wherein the axes of the inlet curved section and the outlet curved section are in a parallel direction and connected to a pipe opening of size DN.

3. The gas flow conditioner according to claim 1 wherein at least one longitudinal plate is symmetrically positioned in the flow bend with respect to an axis of the flow bend.

4. The gas flow conditioner according to claim 1 wherein at least one longitudinal plate is asymmetrically positioned in the flow bend with respect to an axis of the flow bend.

5. The gas flow conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the axis of the middle straight section is in a horizontal direction.

6. The gas flow conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the axis of the middle straight section is in a the vertical direction.

7. The gas flow conditioner according to claim 2, wherein a Reynolds number for the DN-sized pipe is higher than 2,320.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] The flow conditioner, according to the present invention, is described in more detail in a particular example embodiment referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein FIG. 1 shows an exemplary flow conditioner, in particular for natural gas, in axonometric view. FIG. 2 shows a segment with the conditioner in cross-section and plan view. FIG. 3 shows a longer embodiment of the flow conditioner, particularly for natural gas, in axonometric view. Specific use of conditioners with curved plates is shown in FIG. 4, depicting longitudinal sections of ultrasonic gas meters.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] The exemplary flow conditioner in the bend segment, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, comprises bend segment 1 with three longitudinal plates 2, 3 and 4. The segment is shaped to allow a change in the flow direction of up to 180°, i.e. the flow direction upstream of the segment is opposite to the flow direction downstream of the segment. The segment is fitted onto two parallel pipes, i.e. two parallel circular openings. The distance between the pipes can be chosen arbitrarily; the distance between the pipes does not affect the function of the flow conditioner - FIG. 3.

[0018] The plates 2, 3, 4 are shaped according to the shape of bend 1 of the segment and consist of or comprises three sections – the inlet curved section 6, the middle straight section 7, and the outlet curved section 8. The radius of curvature is chosen to create the desired velocity profile.

[0019] The position of plates 2, 3, 4 can be proportional, or the plates 2, 3, 4 are placed more densely to one side to achieve the optimum velocity profile. The conditioner can be placed in both horizontal and vertical directions. The conditioner can be used for different DN sizes of the pipe. The number of plates 2, 3, 4 will depend on the DN size. For the smallest size, there will be 1 or 2 plates; with a larger size, the number of plates will increase, e.g. 3 to n.

[0020] The conditioner can be made of various materials, e.g. plastic, metal, etc. Possible manufacturing technologies include 3D printing of plastics and metals, metal welding, plastic injection moulding, etc. The material and technology used will always depend on the requirements of the specific market. The position of the plates is determined by the required measuring range of the gas meter.

[0021] This flow conditioner will be placed in the compact ultrasonic gas meter, see application CZ PV 2019 – 161.

[0022] The flow conditioner, according to the present invention, will find the application thereof primarily in gas measurement, in ultrasonic flow meters, in particular in natural gas distribution in households, municipal and industrial buildings and the like.