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A miniature and highly sensitive fiber-optic liquid flowmeter based on Fabry–Perot interferometry (FPI) is proposed and demonstrated for fluid-flow micro-channel testing. The diaphragm deformation and pressure of the proposed sensor for flow rate detection are obtained from numerical and finite element method simulations of the theoretical model. The FPI flowmeter can be applied in real time to measure the ultra-wide dynamic range from 0 mL/min to 90 mL/min, with a response time of hundreds of milliseconds, controlling the flow rate with a resolution of 1.08 mL/min, which is 1.2% of the full scale. The quadratic functional relation between dip wavelength shifts and flow rates is verified by the flow calibration curves of the FPI flowmeter under dynamic pressure conditions. In addition, the effective temperature compensation is realized by connecting an FBG temperature sensor for variable temperature flow detection, and the measured error is reduced by nearly 25-times. The proposed sensor has the potential to measure the liquid flow rate in various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An air-coupled transducer was developed in this study, utilizing hollow glass microsphere-organosilicon composites as an acoustically matching layer, which demonstrated outstanding acoustic performance. Firstly, a comparison and analysis of the properties and advantages of different substrates was carried out to determine the potential application value of organosilicon substrates. Immediately after, the effect of hollow glass microspheres with different particle sizes and mass fractions on the acoustic properties of the matching layer was analyzed. It also evaluated the mechanical properties of the matching layer before and after optimization. The findings indicate that the optimized composite material attained a characteristic acoustic impedance of 1.04 MRayl and an acoustic attenuation of 0.43 dB/mm, displaying exceptional acoustic performance. After encapsulating the ultrasonic transducer using a 3D-printed shell, we analyzed and compared its emission and reception characteristics to the commercial transducer and found that its emission acoustic pressure amplitude and reception voltage amplitude were 34% and 26% higher, respectively. Finally, the transducer was installed onto a homemade ultrasonic flow meter for practical application verification, resulting in an accuracy rate of 97.4%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the construction processes of Portland cement concrete pavement (PCCP), the curing compound spraying process is one of the most important processes. If the curing compound spraying amount does not meet the standard or if the curing compound is not applied evenly, distresses occur at the early age of construction, ultimately causing deterioration in concrete pavement performance. The purpose of this study is to develop a real-time monitoring system for a curing compound spraying process based on the Internet of Things (IoT) and sensing technologies to improve the construction quality of concrete pavement. To achieve the goal of this research, we conducted various laboratory and field experiments. The curing compound spraying amount and sprayed status were measured and analyzed using flowmeters, image acquisition sensors, and an image processing program, and the data were provided to workers in real time and simultaneously transmitted to the IoT cloud to form a database. From this study, it is confirmed that the IoT-technology-based curing compound spraying amount and sprayed status monitoring systems can be successfully established to manage construction quality related to the curing of concrete pavement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiphase flowmeters (MPFMs) measure the flow rates of oil, gas, and brine in a pipeline. MPFMs provide remote access to real-time well production data that are essential for efficient oil field operations. Most MPFMs are complex systems requiring frequent maintenance. An MPFM that is operationally simple and accurate is highly sought after in the energy industry. This paper describes an MPFM that uses only pressure sensors to measure gas and liquid flow rates. The design is an integration of a previously developed densitometer with an innovative Venturi-type flowmeter. New computing models with strong analytical foundations were developed, aided by empirical correlations and machine-learning-based flow-regime identification. A prototype was experimentally validated in a multiphase flow loop over a wide range of field-like conditions. The accuracy of the MPFM was compared to that of other multiphase metering techniques from similar studies. The results point to a robust, practical MPFM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A miniature and highly sensitive fiber-optic liquid flowmeter based on Fabry–Perot interferometry (FPI) is proposed and demonstrated for fluid-flow micro-channel testing. The diaphragm deformation and pressure of the proposed sensor for flow rate detection are obtained from numerical and finite element method simulations of the theoretical model. The FPI flowmeter can be applied in real time to measure the ultra-wide dynamic range from 0 mL/min to 90 mL/min, with a response time of hundreds of milliseconds, controlling the flow rate with a resolution of 1.08 mL/min, which is 1.2% of the full scale. The quadratic functional relation between dip wavelength shifts and flow rates is verified by the flow calibration curves of the FPI flowmeter under dynamic pressure conditions. In addition, the effective temperature compensation is realized by connecting an FBG temperature sensor for variable temperature flow detection, and the measured error is reduced by nearly 25-times. The proposed sensor has the potential to measure the liquid flow rate in various applications.

Objective: Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) operations are the most common method to facilitate hemodialysis in patients with chronic renal failure. The longevity of AVF is vital in patients undergoing hemodialysis. We investigated the effect of Transit Time Flow Meter (TTFM) use on AVF patency. Methods: 108 patients (42 in the study group, 66 in the control group) who underwent AVF formation for the first time in the last five years were included in the study. In the measurements made with TTFM, if the pulsatility index (PI) was >5 and the mean flow value was <30 mL/min, AVFs were considered insufficient. Results: Age, gender, lowdensity lipoprotein values (LDL), non-dominant extremity, and accompanying peripheral artery disease in the study group of patients were similar, and smoking in the study group and hypertension in the control group were the most common risk factors. PI and mean flow rates with TFTM in the study group were within the normal range. No statistically significant difference was found in the AVF patency rates when we compared the different periods between groups. However, when evaluating the AVF patency of the groups in the whole period, it was determined that the patency of the patients in the study group was better than the control, and this finding was statistically significant. Conclusion: Intraoperative use of TTFM helps detect AVF dysfunction. This method provides a longer vascular patency time. Increases patient comfort by prolonging the function and life of the AVF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Energy Efficiency Directive (EED, Directive 2012/27/EU) has made mandatory the installation of individual metering systems in the case of buildings with centralized heating/cooling and hot water sources (multi-apartment and multi-purpose buildings), provided it is economically and technically feasible. Individual metering of heating/cooling systems is mainly based on thermal energy meters (TEM), which are widely used for direct metering in heating applications. On the other hand, direct metering of energy consumption in cooling systems still represents a challenge, given the different types of cooling units and the lack of regulations from the technical and legal points of view. In this context, this paper briefly overviews the available centralized cooling systems and the possible solutions for metering and sub-metering, which depend on the specific application. Vapour Compression Refrigeration (VCR) systems are spreading worldwide for air conditioning applications. Particular attention has been paid to the direct metering of cooling energy and specifically to refrigerant flow rate measurement, which represents a critical issue because of the small-diameter pipes and the different thermodynamic properties of the fluid used. Thus, an experimental campaign has been developed and carried out in order to compare a clamp-on ultrasonic flowmeter with a more accurate Coriolis one in a direct expansion (DE) system. The experimental tests have been performed at two different temperature conditions, showing a relative error in the mass flow rate measurements within ±10%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the small and medium diameter mono ultrasonic flowmeter due to the small number of channels vulnerable to uneven flow field distribution, a dual-channel ultrasonic water flowmeter based on the time difference method is proposed. The hardware system of the flowmeter consists of STM32L431 low-power module, high-precision timing module TDC-GP22 and other components. According to the dual-channel pipe segment structure, the data fusion method based on Kalman filter algorithm is proposed to fuse the measurement data of the two channels and complete the filtering process, which improves the measurement accuracy of the flowmeter. The experimental test shows that the flowmeter measurement error is within 2.5%, and the Kalman fusion filtering algorithm can effectively improve the flowmeter measurement accuracy.

Although partitioning of water distribution systems (WDSs) into district metered areas (DMAs) is challenging, it can be effectively used for refined management and leakage control. A two-step novel process for DMA partitioning is proposed in this study, i.e. clustering and dividing. The first step is to cluster nodes through an improved METIS graph partitioning method. The second step is to optimize the location of flowmeters and gate valves on boundary pipes by obtaining the feasible solutions. The good solutions that constitute the Pareto front were produced, which could be a tough and time-consuming task. The paper proposes the innovative and efficient dividing phase: (a) selecting the important boundary pipes by hydraulic analysis; (b) using the improved particle swarm optimization algorithm; (c) proposing three objective functions. The proposed method is applied to Modena and EXNET networks to demonstrate its feasibility. HIGHLIGHTS The improved METIS algorithm generated DMAs based on the water demand and pipe length.; The position of the flowmeter or gate valve in the boundary pipes is optimized through multiple objectives, that is, the minimum number of flowmeters, pressure balance and leakage reduction rate of three aspects.; The pressure balance takes into account the node pressure balance in each partition and minimizes the node pressure.;

Many scientific groups are engaged in the development of experimental stands for assessing blood flow through large arteries. Such stands are used to verify the results of numerical modeling, as well as for direct analysis of hemodynamics or the behavior of vascular walls or biological tissue substitutes. When developing stands, a task arises which is selecting and calibrating flowmeters that are used to measure blood flow at the entrance to the vessel and at its exits. Ultrasonic devices are quite expensive, the cost of vane flowmeters is an order of magnitude lower, but their readings may be unreliable due to the fact that they may have high hydraulic resistance. In this work, impeller flowmeters of the YF-S401 model (China) were investigated. Calibration was carried out, numerical simulation of the impeller rotation under the water flow action flowing through the flowmeters was performed, their modernization was carried out, and hydraulic resistances before and after modernization were calculated. Flowmeters were used in an experimental stand based on a pump that simulates the work of a human heart. The volumetric blood flow at the entrance to the carotid artery model with stenosis and at the exits from the internal and external carotid arteries were measured at the stand. The measured values were compared with similar characteristics obtained by numerical simulation. It was revealed that in order to use flowmeters in an experimental stand to study the dynamics of blood flow, their modernization is necessary. The modernization consisted of increasing the diameter of the inlet. Before modernization, the flow meter readings and the results of numerical modeling diverged by more than 50%. After modernization, the results of numerical modeling and flow meter readings began to differ by no more than 6%. A program has been developed that allows you to automatically collect data on blood flow from wing flowmeters. An experimental stand assembled on the basis of a pump that simulates the work of the heart and wing flowmeters can be used to evaluate blood flows using models of large human vessels.

A novel fiber-tip micro flowmeter based on optofluidic microcavity filled with silver nanoparticles solutions (SNS) is proposed. CW fiber laser was used to heat SNS that can emit heat obviously due to the excellent optic-thermo effect. The heat generated by the silver nanoparticles would be taken away as the microfluidic flows over the fiber microcavity until thermal balance is established under different velocity. The effective refractive index (RI) of the SNS changed followed by temperature of the thermal balance. The dips of the Fabry–Perot interference spectrum shift and the flow velocity can be demodulated. Moreover, the sensor can measure the flow rate with a high sensitivity due to the superior thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity of sidewalls. The max flow rate sensitivity can reach 1.5 nm/(μL/s) in the large range of 0–5 μL/s with a detection limitation (DL) of 0.08 μL/s. The Micron scale probe-type flowmeter has strong robustness and can be used to measure flow rate in tiny space. The heating medium also has an excellent biological compatibility and is not contact with the fluidics directly. As such, we believe that the proposed fiber-tip micro flowmeter has great application potentials in haematology, oil prospecting, ocean dynamics and drug research.

Abstract Background Peak inspiratory and expiratory flows (PIF, PEF) are parameters used to evaluate the mechanics of the respiratory system. These parameters can vary based on whether they are measured using mechanical devices vs. spirometry and based on the barometric pressure at which the measurements are obtained. Our objectives were (1) to report the normal values and variability of PEF and PIF of a Latin American population living at a moderate altitude (2240 m above sea level), (2) to analyze the adjustment of reference values obtained at sea level with those obtained in healthy subjects living at a moderate altitude, and (3) to assess the correlation between PEF obtained by spirometry (PEFs) and PEF obtained by mechanical devices (PEFm). Methods In this prospective and transversal study, men and women with good respiratory health aged between 2.8 and 68 years old were invited to participate. Randomly, they underwent spirometry (to measure PEFs and PIFs) and mechanical flowmetry (to measure PEFm). Results A total of 314 subjects participated, with an average age of 24.3 ± 16.4 years; 59% were Women. The main determinants for the reference equations were age, weight, height and sex at birth. The agreement of the PEFm, PEFs and PIFs values was inconsistent with that reported by other authors, even at the same barometric pressure. The association between PEFm and PEFs was r = 0.91 (p

An air-coupled transducer was developed in this study, utilizing hollow glass microsphere-organosilicon composites as an acoustically matching layer, which demonstrated outstanding acoustic performance. Firstly, a comparison and analysis of the properties and advantages of different substrates was carried out to determine the potential application value of organosilicon substrates. Immediately after, the effect of hollow glass microspheres with different particle sizes and mass fractions on the acoustic properties of the matching layer was analyzed. It also evaluated the mechanical properties of the matching layer before and after optimization. The findings indicate that the optimized composite material attained a characteristic acoustic impedance of 1.04 MRayl and an acoustic attenuation of 0.43 dB/mm, displaying exceptional acoustic performance. After encapsulating the ultrasonic transducer using a 3D-printed shell, we analyzed and compared its emission and reception characteristics to the commercial transducer and found that its emission acoustic pressure amplitude and reception voltage amplitude were 34% and 26% higher, respectively. Finally, the transducer was installed onto a homemade ultrasonic flow meter for practical application verification, resulting in an accuracy rate of 97.4%.

Among the construction processes of Portland cement concrete pavement (PCCP), the curing compound spraying process is one of the most important processes. If the curing compound spraying amount does not meet the standard or if the curing compound is not applied evenly, distresses occur at the early age of construction, ultimately causing deterioration in concrete pavement performance. The purpose of this study is to develop a real-time monitoring system for a curing compound spraying process based on the Internet of Things (IoT) and sensing technologies to improve the construction quality of concrete pavement. To achieve the goal of this research, we conducted various laboratory and field experiments. The curing compound spraying amount and sprayed status were measured and analyzed using flowmeters, image acquisition sensors, and an image processing program, and the data were provided to workers in real time and simultaneously transmitted to the IoT cloud to form a database. From this study, it is confirmed that the IoT-technology-based curing compound spraying amount and sprayed status monitoring systems can be successfully established to manage construction quality related to the curing of concrete pavement.

Multiphase flowmeters (MPFMs) measure the flow rates of oil, gas, and brine in a pipeline. MPFMs provide remote access to real-time well production data that are essential for efficient oil field operations. Most MPFMs are complex systems requiring frequent maintenance. An MPFM that is operationally simple and accurate is highly sought after in the energy industry. This paper describes an MPFM that uses only pressure sensors to measure gas and liquid flow rates. The design is an integration of a previously developed densitometer with an innovative Venturi-type flowmeter. New computing models with strong analytical foundations were developed, aided by empirical correlations and machine-learning-based flow-regime identification. A prototype was experimentally validated in a multiphase flow loop over a wide range of field-like conditions. The accuracy of the MPFM was compared to that of other multiphase metering techniques from similar studies. The results point to a robust, practical MPFM.

Single mode-Multimode-Single mode (SMS) sensors have been attracted a relevant attention because of their simple manufacturing, their capability of sensing different quantities, and their enhanced sensitivity compared to the most common fiber optic sensor represented by Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs). Moreover, SMS sensors exhibit blue-shift sensitivity to strain, opposite to FBGs, making them suitable in applications where strain-temperature cross-sensitivity may be an issue. SMS sensors are made by splicing a short multimode, preferably a two mode or quasi two-mode, optical fiber jumper between single mode pigtails. The interference of the modes propagating at different phase velocities produces a spectral pattern that shifts with temperature, strain or any perturbation of the phase difference among the modes. In this paper we review the main features of SMSs as temperature sensors and we present a potential biomedical application in an all-fiber flowmeter based on the hot-wire principle: a fiber-coupled laser source at 980 nm is used as a controllable heating source of the SMS sensor that, when immersed in fluid flow, converts the temperature variation, caused by the heat removal, into a wavelength shift of the transmitted spectrum. Thermal characterization and proof-of-concept experiments show the feasibility and functionality of the sensor and provide an outlook on possible developments and potential applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research deals with the oscillation frequency of a classical and simple flip-flop jet nozzle with one feed-back loop based on the measurements of pressure and velocity. From these measurements, the traces of pressure difference between both ends of a connecting tube are modeled by a triangular wave, and the flow velocities in the connecting tube are calculated numerically. The resulting accumulated flow work, which consists of the time integral of mass flux into the re-circulation region on the low pressure side wall from the re-circulation region on the opposite high-pressure side wall through the connecting tube, is more adequate to determine jet-oscillation frequency than any other time integrals. This includes those of momentum flux and kinetic-energy flux. It is confirmed that jet-oscillation frequency predicted on the basis of this accumulated flow work agrees well with experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Telah dilakukan pembuatan sistem otomasi untuk ekstraksi radiocessium pada filter preparasi dan filter pengambilan sampel dalam menentukan kualitas air. Sistem otomasi dilakukan dengan cara mengintegrasikan antara pompa, flowmeter dan sensor pendeteksi cairan mengunakan perangkat keras Arduino Uno. Struktur pemrograman yang ditanamkan pada perangkat Arduino menggunakan bahasa pemrograman C dan dikomunikasikan secara serial dengan komputer menggunakan bahasa pemrograman LabVIEW. Validasi sistem otomasi pada mode sampling dilakukan dengan membandingkan antara volume set poin dengan volume yang dihasilkan serta membandingkan tingkat kejernihan cairan. Untuk mengetahui tingkat keberhasilan preparasi pada filter ekstraksi dilakukan pengambilan data pada cairan yang digunakan sebagai media ekstraksi. Data hasil rekaman flowmeter diperoleh persamaan y = 2601.3𝑥-31.183 dengan linearitas sebesar 0.9788. Karakteristik ADC pada cairan ekstraksi berkisar antara 30 – 60. nilai tersebut digunakan sebagai referensi pada mode preparasi media ekstraksi filter radiocesium. Hasil validasi sistem otomasi tersebut menampilkan kesesuaian antara parameter yang di input dengan yang dihasilkan serta kestabilan pada pembacaan parameter.

Single mode-Multimode-Single mode (SMS) sensors have been attracted a relevant attention because of their simple manufacturing, their capability of sensing different quantities, and their enhanced sensitivity compared to the most common fiber optic sensor represented by Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs). Moreover, SMS sensors exhibit blue-shift sensitivity to strain, opposite to FBGs, making them suitable in applications where strain-temperature cross-sensitivity may be an issue. SMS sensors are made by splicing a short multimode, preferably a two mode or quasi two-mode, optical fiber jumper between single mode pigtails. The interference of the modes propagating at different phase velocities produces a spectral pattern that shifts with temperature, strain or any perturbation of the phase difference among the modes. In this paper we review the main features of SMSs as temperature sensors and we present a potential biomedical application in an all-fiber flowmeter based on the hot-wire principle: a fiber-coupled laser source at 980 nm is used as a controllable heating source of the SMS sensor that, when immersed in fluid flow, converts the temperature variation, caused by the heat removal, into a wavelength shift of the transmitted spectrum. Thermal characterization and proof-of-concept experiments show the feasibility and functionality of the sensor and provide an outlook on possible developments and potential applications.

The Energy Efficiency Directive (EED, Directive 2012/27/EU) has made mandatory the installation of individual metering systems in the case of buildings with centralized heating/cooling and hot water sources (multi-apartment and multi-purpose buildings), provided it is economically and technically feasible. Individual metering of heating/cooling systems is mainly based on thermal energy meters (TEM), which are widely used for direct metering in heating applications. On the other hand, direct metering of energy consumption in cooling systems still represents a challenge, given the different types of cooling units and the lack of regulations from the technical and legal points of view. In this context, this paper briefly overviews the available centralized cooling systems and the possible solutions for metering and sub-metering, which depend on the specific application. Vapour Compression Refrigeration (VCR) systems are spreading worldwide for air conditioning applications. Particular attention has been paid to the direct metering of cooling energy and specifically to refrigerant flow rate measurement, which represents a critical issue because of the small-diameter pipes and the different thermodynamic properties of the fluid used. Thus, an experimental campaign has been developed and carried out in order to compare a clamp-on ultrasonic flowmeter with a more accurate Coriolis one in a direct expansion (DE) system. The experimental tests have been performed at two different temperature conditions, showing a relative error in the mass flow rate measurements within ±10%.

At a combined cycle power plant, gas turbine cooling air flowrate data is required for operation and maintenance because it is an important for analyzing not only the temperature of both stators and blades but also plant efficiency. However, it is very difficult to measure the data. An ultrasonic flowmeter cannot be used since the measurement position becomes hot, usually exceeding 300 degrees centigrade. An insert type flowmeter is also difficult to use as it requires additional pipe processing for installation and also causes a pressure loss. Accordingly, we tried to use the heater method, which we proposed and validated in our previous papers. In this method, a circumferential heater is attached to the outside of a pipe and then the axial temperature distribution along the outside of the pipe, which is influenced by the fluid velocity in the pipe, is measured by thermocouples. The velocity is analyzed on the basis of the temperature distribution along the pipe. Measurements were conducted for two kinds of cooling air pipe at an advanced combined cycle power plant. In one, cooling air is extracted from the 13th stage of a compressor and supplied to the 2nd stators of the gas turbine; in the other, cooling air is extracted from the 9th stage of the compressor and supplied to the 3rd stators of the gas turbine. As a result, it was clarified that the cooling air flowrate had a positive dependence on atmospheric temperature at the plant. The dependence was also compared to that of a tit 1,600 degrees centigrade-class combined cycle power plant, with a power output of 700 MW.

In order to solve the problem of single well without liquid phase measurement in Sulige Gas Field under the process mode of interwell series connection and wellhead wet gas measurement, a method of combining throttle flowmeter and vortex flowmeter to measure wet gas-liquid two-phase flow was proposed. The overall structure of flowmeter was simplified by integrating two kinds of flowmeter measuring tubes and adopting differential pressure static pressure, frequency and temperature integrated sensors. The indoor air-water two-phase flow experimental platform was used to test the measurement accuracy of the wet gas flowmeter. The results show that when the instantaneous liquid volume is 0.05-4 m3/h, the gas and liquid measurement errors of the combined wet gas flowmeter are within 5% and 20% respectively. The measurement accuracy of the wet gas flowmeter was tested at the wellhead of the gas well by using the separation metering device. The results show that the average error of gas and liquid phase measurement in the bubble exhaust well is less than 5% and 20% respectively, which can accurately reflect the liquid production law of the gas well and guide the optimization of the bubble discharge and filling system; the gas phase measurement error in the plunger gas lift well is less than 8%, and the liquid phase measurement error is large, but it can accurately reflect the liquid production characteristics of the plunger gas well, which could provide the basis for working condition diagnosis and production system optimization of plunger gas well.

Background: Peak inspiratory and expiratory flows (PIF, PEF) are parameters used to evaluate the mechanics of the respiratory system. These parameters can vary based on whether they are measured using mechanical devices vs. spirometry and based on the barometric pressure at which the measurements are obtained. Our objectives were (1) to report the normal values and variability of PEF and PIF of a Latin American population living at a moderate altitude (2240 m above sea level), (2) to analyze the adjustment of reference values obtained at sea level with those obtained in healthy subjects living at a moderate altitude, and (3) to assess the correlation between PEF obtained by spirometry (PEFs) and PEF obtained by mechanical devices (PEFm).Methods: In this prospective and transversal study, men and women with good respiratory health aged between 2.8 and 68 years old were invited to participate. Randomly, they underwent spirometry (to measure PEFs and PIFs) and mechanical flowmetry (to measure PEFm).Results: A total of 314 subjects participated, with an average age of 24.3 ± 16.4 years; 59% were Women. The main determinants for the reference equations were age, weight, height and sex at birth. The agreement of the PEFm, PEFs and PIFs values was inconsistent with that reported by other authors, even at the same barometric pressure. The association between PEFm and PEFs was r = 0.91 (p < 0.001), and the correlation coefficient of concordance was 0.84.Conclusions: The PEFm, PEFs, and PIFs measurements in individuals living at moderate altitudes are different from those found by other authors in cities with different barometric pressures and ethnicities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The key equipment of oil and gas pipelines is the important treasure of a country because they are related to national energy security. For many years, the key equipment has been imported, which become a bottleneck restricting the high-quality development of oil and gas industry in China. Thus, great attention was attracted from the CPC Central Committee and the State Council to localization, and it was decided to fully guard against and mitigate the risk of "stranglehold" through independent research. With the powerful support of the National Energy Administration and China Machinery Industry Federation, CNPC launched the localization work for equipment in oil and gas pipelines in 2007, set up two batches of major projects of science and technology localization, cooperated with 35 domestic manufacturers. As a result, a major breakthrough was made in the localization of 6 kinds of key equipment, such as compressor unit, oil pump set and valve, which breaks the foreign monopoly, ensures the independence and controllability of oil and gas energy, and further promotes the development of domestic equipment manufacturing to the high end.

The paper considers the application of nuclear magnetic resonance for measurement of fluid-flow. The paper is of an experimental nature. Flowmeter based on nuclear magnetic resonance is extremely precise. The combined measurement uncertainty can be 0.1 %. Such a value of measurement uncertainty indicates that it is a matter of a deterministic and not of a stochastic quantity. This high degree of reliability of the method is theoretically and mathematically described. The paper presents a measurement scheme for flow measurement. Water flow measurement was performed on the principle of nuclear magnetic resonance and on the basis of tritiated water (which is considered to be the most accurate classical method). The obtained results show that the measurement of flow based on nuclear magnetic resonance is more accurate (especially at higher flow). This is explained by the higher inertial mass of HTO tritiated water molecules than the standard H2 O mass and the possible transition of tritiated water to H3HeO. In this way, it has been proven that tracing water based on nuclear magnetic resonance is the only real tracing of water by water. The obtained results show that tracing water with tritiated or heavy water is not tracing water by water which is explained by different inertial masses.

Large flowmeters are used in many industrial facilities, including power plants, coolingwater stations for refineries, and petrochemical plants. These flowmeters are employed for various purposes, including billing. Just like all machines, flowmeters are subject to failure. Drift is a particular type of failure in which the flowmeter produces an error in measurement that would incrementally increase with time. Maintenance technicians calibrate and fix all measuring equipment, including flowmeters. Nevertheless, downsizing policies and budget cuts in most contemporary industrial facilities have made these technicians overwhelmed with work. A mathematical and computer-based drift-detection scheme is developed to reduce the burden of the maintenance staff. The detection scheme only uses the flowmeter's flow data and the discrete Fourier transform (DFT). The detection scheme was applied over the flow data from an actual flowmeter that drifted during its operation. DFT application over the data produced by the flowmeter led to expected results and other unexpected results. This paper discusses both results and suggests areas for further study. Practically speaking, the scheme would facilitate the early detection of drifts in flowmeters having seasonal flow regardless of type or manufacturer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water meters are widely used instruments in water distribution networks and are mainly used for billing applications. In service, conditions rarely meet the stationary or mean stationary regime. In most cases, the operating conditions are characterized by a marked dynamic behavior, with a significant flow rate variation over time. In this article, the functioning of water meters under stationary and dynamic conditions is examined in more detail, highlighting the main differences between mechanical meters and meters with a different measuring principle, such as ultrasonic or electromagnetic. Some criteria and test methods for classifying the dynamic responses of water meters are also proposed.

Response duration is a key index for evaluating the dynamic performance of a flowmeter. Usually, the duration length can be identified according to the time difference between the start of the change of flow rate into the measured meter and the end of the change of the indicated value. The flow into the meter for dynamic measurement or calibration is also called excitation flow, a change in the short-rise time flow, generated by a dedicated system. Because harsh flow rate variation by the excitation system is particularly difficult to control with high accuracy, changes in the short-rise time flow present immense challenges. The purpose of this article is to study the compensations of strong nonlinear characteristics of the proposed dynamic measurement system. The system includes a piezoelectrically actuated double-nozzle flapper valve and four specific liquid restrictors. The system model is established, which considers the hysteresis behavior of the actuator and the elasticity of the flapper. Simulations under typical conditions are implemented to examine how the hysteresis compensation affects the flow rate response of the system. Experimental data conform to the simulation. Results show that the linearity of the flow rate variation generated by the excitation system considerably improves with compensation on the actuator. The system can respond at approximately 1000 Hz with only 0.5% hysteresis of the actuator. With the hysteresis compensation to the actuator, the flow rate is approximately linear. The flow rate variation is controllable and measurable with the same voltages applied. Higher flow rate variation leads to a shorter response to per unit variation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An Internet of Things (IoT) node-based nonintrusive, resilient liquid flow transmitter has been developed using a circular interdigital capacitor (IDC) as a primary sensor. A section of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe is cut and a silicon tube of lesser diameter (compared with PVC pipe) is attached with the PVC pipe. A circular IDC is installed on the silicon tube and is used to convert the volumetric flow rate into corresponding capacitance. The change in capacitance with respect to the flow rate is nonlinear. Modified De Sauty bridge circuit is connected with the developed flow sensor to get the electrical output. To linearize the bridge output, three different linearization techniques, i.e., linear least square (LLS), genetic algorithm (GA), and artificial neural network (ANN) have been used and their statistical analysis is reported in this article. The best suited linearization technique (ANN) for the proposed sensor from the simulated result has been used in hardware implementation. This article proposes the IDC sensor access scheme design based on the IoT node and the transmission of the standard voltage signal 1–5 V using IoT node. The transmitted voltage and the received voltage have the same characteristic under the percentage error of ±0.5% of transmitted voltage. It has 0.286-pF resolution for measurement of liquid flow rate from 0 to 2000 litre per hour (LPH). This article highlights the theoretical analysis of the developed sensor to elucidate its working with maximum clarity. This sensor has been tested and its characteristics are thoroughly studied in the research workshop. Experimental results have proved that the wireless flow transmitter obeys linear characteristics and tuned well with theoretical equations based on the working principle. In addition, the proposed flow measurement is nonintrusive in nature as the circular IDC does not come in contact with the liquid flow, hence, increases the life span of the sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calibrating a gas flowmeter requires a suitable working medium that represent its use in the real operating condition. However, factors like installation conditions, costs, and safety considerations may necessitate to utilize a different medium for calibration. The accuracy of measuring fluid flow by a flowmeter is greatly influenced by the kinematic viscosity property of the gas medium. In this particular study, a turbine flowmeter for compressed natural gas (CNG) application was calibrated using air as a substitute with an approach that simulated the kinematic viscosity property of CNG. Here, the pressure and temperature of the air were calculated to achieve the same kinematic viscosity value as CNG during the calibration process, which was accomplished by adjusting the setting of a regulating instrument in the calibration installation. Furthermore, argon (Ar) was also used for comparison with air, with a modification in working pressure to attain similar kinematic viscosity properties for both gases. The calculation results showed that the working pressure setting for the air used was 4.5 bars, while for argon was 3.38 bars to achieve similar kinematic viscosity. By utilizing air instead of CNG, a minimum and maximum volume flowrate difference of −0.0242 m3/h and 0.0016 m3/h, respectively, was observed, with an absolute average of 0.0086 m3/h or 0.8 %. This study reveals the effectiveness of the kinematic viscosity approach in calibrating a turbine flowmeter under working pressure of up to 4.5 barg. This process results in uncertainty measurement of under 1 % when calibrating gas flowmeters, using air as the medium. • A kinematic viscosity approach is used through working pressure setting to obtain the actual calibration medium. • The kinematic viscosity decreased with an increase in working pressure, which generally tends to reduce volume flowrate. • An accurate pressure measurement is required for the working fluid used to produce an accurate volume flowrate. • The kinematic viscosity approach to calibrating a turbine flowmeter is applicable for difficult actual mediums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flowmeters play a critical role in hydraulic systems. Following a review of positive displacement flowmeters, we hereby introduce a novel positive displacement flowmeter with parallel two-dimensional pistons as metering units. The working principle involves simultaneously utilizing both the rotational and reciprocation movements of a two-dimensional piston and paralleling two two-dimensional pistons to prevent flow rate fluctuations. Consequently, we established a mathematical model to describe the cam track curves and the displacement of the flowmeter. Meanwhile, the pressure loss is analyzed and the leakage flow rate is estimated to compensate the relative error. Finally, we designed and fabricated a prototype to measure the flow rate with ranges of 1 - 25 L/min. The experimental results show that the prototype has a reading uncertainty of less than 2%, a linearity of around ±3.8% and relative errors of less than ±2.9%. The pressure loss for the prototype increases linearly with the total flow rate and reaches 3 bar at 25 L/min. These characteristics are acceptable considering that this prototype is the first set of two-dimensional piston flowmeters. The shortcomings of this first-generation flowmeter are discussed in the conclusion part to provide guidance to enhance the performance of next-generation prototypes.

There are presented a method for measuring the amount of pneumatic transported bulk material in particulate production. The method is based on the Pockels’ effect. The block diagram of the automated system for measuring the flow of bulk dielectric materials with an electro-optic Pockels cell is developed by the authors. The measuring system has a sufficiently high accuracy and speed, which is relevant for continuous flow monitoring in the technological process and quality assurance of pharmaceutical products.

Lateral intakes are one of the most common structures of dividing the flow in irrigation and drainage systems. Due to complexity of the velocity profile in divide zone, measurement of mean flow velocity is become very difficult. In this paper the velocity profile of lateral intakes were calculated whit high accuracy by using of artificial neural network. To do this, the following steps have been taken: (1) Computational fluid dynamic model of lateral intakes in various wide ratios were modeled and validated with a published experimental study. The results shown that the numerical model has high accuracy in modeling the flow of lateral intakes. (2) By using the computational fluid dynamic model, the velocity that measured with a hypothetical flowmeter that placed at the middle of the cross section were extracted. (3) A multilayer perceptron model were designed to predicting the mean flow velocity by using of the flowmeter measured velocity, width ratio and longitudinal coordinate. The results shown that using of combination of flowmeter measurement and artificial neural network could predict the accurate mean flow velocity in lateral intakes.

Abstract Purpose To investigate whether a metabolic cart using a flowmeter in the upper range of accepted resistance to airflow (

Purpose: To investigate whether a metabolic cart using a flowmeter in the upper range of accepted resistance to airflow (<1.5 cmH2O∙L−1∙s−1 for flows up to 14 L∙s−1, American Thoracic Society) negatively impacts exercise performance in healthy individuals. Methods: 16 recreationally active males (age 25 ± 1 years, height 180 ± 6 cm, weight 73.5 ± 5.8 kg, all mean ± SD) performed two incremental tests on a bicycle ergometer on each of two visits, using a metabolic cart with a flowmeter of either low (Oxycon Pro) or high (Innocor) airflow resistance. Mouth pressures, gas exchange, blood lactate concentration [La−], perception of breathlessness, respiratory, and leg exertion were assessed throughout the tests. Results: Tests performed with the Innocor were significantly shorter (15.3 ± 3.2 vs. 15.8 ± 3.3 min, p < 0.0001) and showed higher maximal flow resistance (1.3 ± 0.2 vs. 0.3 ± 0.0 cmH2O∙L−1∙s−1, p < 0.0001). At end‐exercise, peak oxygen consumption (−200 ± 220 ml.min−1, p < 0.0001), minute ventilation (−19.9 ± 10.5 L.min−1, p < 0.0001), breathing frequency (−5.4 ± 5.2 breaths.min−1, p < 0.0001), heart rate (−2.1 ± 3.6 bpm, p = 0.002) and [La−] (−0.7 ± 1.0 mmol.L−1, p < 0.0001), but not tidal volume (−0.1 ± 0.2 L, p = 0.172) were lower with the Innocor, while the perception of breathlessness was higher (+3.8 ± 5.1 points, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Airflow resistance in the upper range of current guidelines can significantly affect exercise performance and respiratory pattern in young, healthy males during incremental exercise. The present results indicate the need to revisit guidelines for devices used in ergospirometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A clamp-on type flowmeter for steam and air, which does not require pipe-cutting for installation, is needed for diagnosing performance and saving energy in facilities such as factories and power plants. Therefore, in our previous study we devised a heater method for measuring steam and air flow, in which a circumferential heater was attached to the outside of a pipe and then the axial temperature distribution on the outside of the pipe was measured by thermocouples. Steam velocity was analyzed on the basis of the temperature distribution in the pipe axial direction, considering heat transfer inside the pipe and thermal conductivity in the steel pipe-wall. Thus, we determined a thermal boundary layer coefficient, which is the ratio of the thermal boundary layer flow rate to the flow rate in the whole pipe cross section, and two kinds of thermal transfer coefficient depending on position, which were that upstream of the heater and that at the middle of the heater. In the present study, we conducted further experiments under various steam pressures, calibrated the reference fluid flowmeter under supervision of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, and reconsidered the fluid pressure values. Using the experimental data obtained, we could decide the parameters more precisely compared with in the previous study, and thus improved the accuracy of the heater method.

Accurate determination of flowmeters' design and manufacturing parameters ensures that commercially available flowmeters' declared characteristics are reliable. In this study, nine different flow meters with elliptical gear pairs were manufactured at three different a/b ratios, three different modules, and three different tooth numbers, and the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models were prepared. CFD analysis forms the basis of the study's methodology, which seeks to statistically identify the most appropriate elliptical gear parameters according to the flow meters manufactured and what the most influential parameter that changes the measured flow rate is. As the pressure of the fluid increased, the measured and CFD-calculated flow rates decreased. According to the measured flow rates and CFD analysis results, it was found that the average flow rate change was −0.0102 %, the biggest change was in the flow meter coded Db-03 with 0.0855 % at 3.00 MPa pressure, and the least change was in the flow meter coded Db-02 with 0.0002 % at 4.50 MPa pressure. The CFD models developed for the manufactured flowmeters were suitable for all flowmeters according to the measured and calculated percent flow rate variations. Taguchi L 9 analysis revealed that a/b = 1.40, m = 2.50 mm, and z = 40 teeth are the optimal manufacturing parameters for elliptical gear, according to the signal-to-noise ratio based on the largest, best analysis. According to the analysis of variance, the modulus value contributed the most to the calculated flow rate at 65.25%, whereas the a/b ratio contributed the least with 0.96%. • The module is the most significant factor impacting the flow rate. • The ideal parameters are 1.40 a/b ratio, 2.50 modulus, and 40 teeth. • When the fluid pressure increased, the measured flow rates decreased. • m (modulus) contributed the most to the measured flow rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of voiding position on uroflowmetry parameters and to assess its potential clinical implications. Materials and Methods: We conducted a prospective study from 2013 to 2015 and included men between 18 and 77 years old who were either healthy volunteers with an International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) ≤7 or men with benign prostate enlargement that were on alpha-blocker medication and had an IPSS ＜10. Participants underwent uroflowmetry and post-void residual urine (PVRU) measurements twice, once in a sitting position and once in a standing position. The participants were divided into 4 groups based on age (35 years or younger, 36 to 50 years, 51 to 60 years, and older than 60 years). Results: A total of 740 men with a mean age of 40.35 years were evaluated. There was no significant difference in uroflowmetry parameters until the age of 50 years between the voiding positions. However, in those older than 50 years, PVRU volume was significantly lower in the sitting position than the standing position, whereas voiding time was significantly higher in the sitting position than the standing position. Other uroflowmetry parameters, including maximal and average urine flow rates, were non-significant. Conclusions: The voiding position plays an important role in the uroflowmetry parameters of elderly men. Voiding in the sitting position was found to be optimal for elderly men, whereas the role of the voiding position in healthy young men could not be determined. More research is needed to further study this issue.

Pengisian cairan dapat dilakukan dengan mudah secara manual. Tetapi untuk hasil yang lebih baik, sebaiknya dilakukan otomatis menggunakan katup elektronik, terutama untuk pengisian berulang dalam rentang waktu lama. Tetapi di beberapa kasus, kabel penghubung antara tempat pengisian dengan sistem elektronik dianggap menyulitkan dan beresiko. Penggunaan modul WiFi dapat menjadi alternatif solusi masalah ini. Selain menghubungkan sistem mekanik pengisian dengan smartphone, modul ini juga dapat menghubungkan sistem mekanik tersebut dengan PC yang berperan sebagai Data Logger sekaligus Web server. Pada penelitian ini telah dirancang dan diuji, sistem pengisian air mulai 50 ml sampai 1000 ml dengan resolusi 50 ml. Volume cairan yang diinginkan dapat ditentukan melalui keypad dan proses pengisian dipantau menggunakan flowmeter. Aliran cairan dapat dibuka dan ditutup melalui katup elektronik dan hasil akhir pengisian ditampilkan di LCD. Selain itu, data hasil pengisian juga dapat dikirimkan ke smartphone maupun PC yang berperan sebagai Data Logger dan Web Server. Dari serangkaian pengujian diperoleh akurasi pengisian dengan kesalahan berkisar antara 0,1%-10%. Jangkauan WiFi dianggap memadai, melampaui 20 m, dengan proses pengiriman kurang dari 2 ms. Selain itu, PC juga dapat merekam seluruh kejadian pengisian, berupa waktu dan volume pengisian, serta menampilkannya pada domain Web.

Introduction: Tafonius is an anesthesia machine with computer-controlled monitor and ventilator. We compared the isoflurane fluctuations in the circuit with manual (MF) or computer-driven (CF) flowmeters, investigated the origin of the differences and assessed whether isoflurane concentration time course followed a one-compartment model.Material and Methods: A calibrated TEC-3 isoflurane vaporizer was used. Gas composition and flows were measured using a multiparametric monitor and a digital flowmeter. Measurements included: (1) Effects of various FiO2 with MF/CF on the isoflurane fraction changes in the breathing system during mechanical ventilation of a lung model; wash-in kinetic was fitted to a compartmental model; (2) Gas outflow at the common gas outlet (CGO) with MF/CF at different FiO2; (3) Isoflurane output of the vaporizer at various dial settings with MF/CF set at different flows without and with reduction of the CGO diameter.Results: (1) The 3% targeted isoflurane concentration was not reached; additional time was required to reach specific concentrations with CF (lowest FiO2, longer time). The exponential course fitted a two-compartment model; (2) Set and measured flows were identical with MF. With CF at 0.21 FiO2, flow was intermittently 7.6 L min−1 or zero (mean total: 38% of the set flow); with CF at 1.00 FiO2, flow was 10.6 L min−1 or zero (mean: 4–5.3 L min−1); with 0.21 < FiO2 < 1.00, combined flow was intermittent (maximum output: 15.6 L min−1); (3) With MF, isoflurane output was matching dial setting at 5 L min−1 but was lower at higher flows; with CF generating intermittent flows, isoflurane output was fluctuating. With the 4 mm diameter CGO, isoflurane concentration was close to dial setting with both MF and CF. With a 14 G CGO, isoflurane concentration was lower than dial setting with MF, higher with CF.Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Using MF or CF led to different isoflurane fraction time course in Tafonius. Flows were lower than set with CF; the TEC-3 did not compensate for high/intermittent flows and pressures; the CGO diameter influenced isoflurane output.

Commercial time-of-flight (TOF) ultrasonic flowmeters (UFM) are rapidly expanding in the general industry. Among the different techniques that can be applied to determine the TOF of ultrasonic waves, the cross-correlation method presents numerous advantages, such as robustness for weak signals and noise suppression. However, the selection of an appropriate reference wave is presumably a key element in the precise measurement of TOF. In this paper, an algorithm to compute an accurate TOF is proposed. The form of the electric signal received by the transducer is obtained from an acoustically forced underdamped oscillator model, and the analytical solution of the model is proposed as a reference wave. In order to validate the effectiveness of this procedure, a UFM system is designed and tested in a flowmeter calibration test rig. It is demonstrated that the use of the presented scheme overcomes the average method limitations, and turns out to be a convenient solution in a wide range of conditions. Robust measurements of near-zero flow values are acquired, which allow the achievement of a high dynamic range. The error curve of the proposed system have been obtained, revealing that the absolute value of the relative errors is lower than 2% within all the spectrum of flow rates considered (from 0.2 to 150 $\text{m}^{3}$ /h). Results demonstrate that the algorithm provides high-precision measurements within a wide dynamic range. The algorithm is portable and versatile: it can be adapted to different types of transducers without the need of additional measurements, allowing adjusting parameters on-the-fly for an optimal performance of the ultrasonic flowmeter (UFM) system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The article provides a solution to the problem of contraction process modeling when measuring the flow of fluids and gases using differential pressure flowmeters. The article shows the feasibility of obtaining the coefficient of contraction from the mathematical model of the reduced/contracted flow of fluids or gases. An analytical expression is obtained for the coefficient of contraction, which agrees well with the results of the experiment. Analysis of this expression is performed and dependencies on the geometrical parameters of the pipeline and orifice plate are obtained. Highlights • Modeling of Coefficient of Contraction of Differential Pressure Flowmeters. • Contraction phenomenon. • Modeling of Vena Contracta of Orifice Plates. • New method of modeling the Coefficient of Contraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In prior studies on the topic of two-phase flows flowing through a V-Cone meter, it has been observed that the flow rate is only determined for the primary phase. Determining the quantity of gas in the liquid phase is an essential issue in multiphase flows with low gas holdup. As a result, experimental relations based on changes in gas volume fraction have been reported in this study to enhance the prediction of prior relationships and identify the gas phase flow rate. This study reduced the range of relative error from −2 to 10% to ±1% by modifying existing correlations for estimating liquid mass flow rate. Moreover, despite very small, and high sensitivity of gas mass flow rate, the proposed correlation can predict this quantity with an absolute relative error below 1%. • In this study, new relations are proposed to predict the flow rates of both phases. • The effects of gas phase expansibility were included in proposed relations. • The relative error of liquid mass flow rate calculation was reduced to ±1%. • The new relation predicted gas flowrate with an absolute relative error below 1%. • An algorithm for online gas flow measurement was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issues connected with the complex design of various facilities, including up-to-date boiler equipment as well as the ways of organizing the space around them, are the reasons why there is often a lack of room for mounting a flowmeter in accordance with the recommendations of manufacturers. In most cases the problem is associated with ensuring sufficient lengths of straight pipe leading into and out of a flowmeter. When this condition cannot be fulfilled, the uncertainty of measurement increases above the value guaranteed by the manufacturer of the flowmeter. This sort of operation problem has encouraged the authors of this paper to undertake research aimed at the analysis of applicability of averaging Pitot tubes in the areas of flow disturbance.