Calculation of geometric flow profile correction factor for ultrasonic flow meter using semi-3D simulation technique

Due to the operating conditions, the flow profile within the ultrasonic flowmeters is not usually uniform. In order to consider the effects of non-uniformity, the flow profile correction factor (FPCF) can be implemented in the flow rate calculation process. Considering this, the measured velocity in each acoustic path can be converted to the average velocity. Various techniques have been used so far to simulate ultrasonic flowmeters and to calculate FPCF, which have often employed only CFD simulation without considering the effect of the flow on the acoustic wave movement inside the flowmeter. However, 3D acoustic simulation requires a very high mesh, especially when the diameter of the meter is high or the distance between the ultrasonic transducers is relatively long. In this work, a semi-3D simulation technique is used, through employing which, the FPCF for a commercial DN200 ultrasonic meter is calculated with a reasonable accuracy for different inlet flow velocities. Using this technique can significantly reduce the computational space and time. © 2020 Elsevier B.V.