A comparative study of the flow rate characteristics of flange-embedded averaging pitot tube (APT) flow meters for various cross-section shapes

In order to enhance the productivity and maintenance of the APT flow meter, a flange-embedded averaging Pitot tube (FEAPT) flow meter was newly designed. Generally, the APT flow meter is detached from the pipe for maintenance and repair, after which it is reassembled into the pipe. The maintenance processes cause a problem of misalignment of the APT flow meter to the axial axis of the pipe when attaching it to the pipe. Moreover, the flow fluids can leak due to sealing problems between the APT flow meter and the pipe. The FEAPT flow meter can prevent the aforementioned problem during maintenance because the probe element is embedded into a standard flange as one body. In this study, the FEAPT flow meters with several shapes were designed and the flow rate characteristics of the FEAPT flow meters were investigated. The dynamic pressure of the flow across the APT flow meter is obtained for various shapes of the FEAPT flow meter. The dynamic pressure correlation curve with the H-parameter for the various shapes was represented by a parabola equation. The coefficient of the correlation curve was 0.99996. Also, a comparative study of the flow rate characteristics according to the shapes of the newly developed FEAPT flow meter was undertaken.