Optimization of Venturi Flow Meter Model for the Angle of Divergence with Minimal Pressure Drop by Computational Fluid Dynamics Method
Abstract
The conceptualization of this project is inspired by the experiments conducted for the calibration of
Venturimeter and the loss of water head at the downstream of pipe flow in various hydraulic power plants.
The Venturimeter, a typical obstruction type flow meters are widely used in industry for flow measurements. A
significant amount of pressure loss occurs in pipelines due to the obstructions present in these types of flow meters.
Permanent pressure loss depends on the shape of obstruction, the diameter ratio and also on properties of the fluid
[1]. But a differential pressure at minimum pressure loss is the most desirable condition for an ideal Flow Meter. In
the present work, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) has been used to compute the permanent pressure loss and
relative pressure loss for 2D incompressible fluid for various designs of a classical Venturimeter.
The Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software ANSYS FLUENT© has been used as a tool to perform
modeling and simulation of the Venturimeter. The results of the simulation show that there is a minimum pressure
drop in the instrument only for one value of angle of divergence for an unchanged angle of convergence. The
simulation results were compared to the Venturi flow meter installed at R V College of Engineering. The results can
be interpreted for a better design of the throat shape and the overall Venturi flow meter design and can reduce the
pumping cost of the system. Hence, the focus of the study was directed towards optimizing the present model that
takes into account most of the experimental variables.
Keywords Venturimeter, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), pressure drop, angle of divergence, angle of convergence
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