The Design of a New Flow Meter for Pipes Based on the Drag Force Exerted on a Cylinder in Cross Flow (Drag Force Flow Meter: DFFM)

Abstract

It is shown how to design a new method (DFFM) of flow metering in pipes from basic principles. The method relies on the well known drag force on a cylindrical body and the force measurement by a load cell. The drag force is exclusively measured in the axial flow direction, the only one that contributes to the flow rate. That way disturbing tangential swirl components which do not contribute remain unconsidered. By means of an upstream screen the meter is desensitized to disturbing axial velocity profile distortions. Testing with various installations demonstrates the main features and the error bar to be expected.