Segmented Pipe Bend for Swirl-Free Flow Calibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe bends used in calibration systems for flow meters introduce disturbances such as secondary vortices, twist, and non-uniform mass distribution, making it difficult to maintain a stable, rotationally symmetrical, swirl-free flow profile, and require significant space and investment costs.
Innovation Solution
A pipe bend comprising multiple individual tubes with a 90° bend and perforated plates at the inlet and outlet, arranged in concentric annular layers, which reduces secondary flow formation and maintains mass flow distribution, accompanied by a rectifier plate to eliminate secondary vortices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional pipe bends are used to deflect medium flow, then the flow direction is changed, but secondary vortices and flow disturbances are generated that compromise calibration accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe bend is segmented into multiple individual tubes (at least 9 tubes) arranged in a bundle, where each tube has a smaller curvature radius than the overall pipe bend. This segmentation reduces secondary flow formation in each individual tube while collectively achieving the desired flow direction change for the entire medium flow.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If tube bundles with small curvature radii are used to reduce secondary flows, then the number of tubes increases, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual tubes are nested within a common outer contour forming a compact bundle. The tubes are arranged concentrically with at least one central tube and surrounding tubes, all contained within a defined outer boundary. This nesting approach reduces the overall space requirement compared to using a single large-radius pipe bend.
3Measurement precision
If the inlet section is extended to ensure fully developed flow profile, then the calibration accuracy improves, but the required installation space increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The tube bundle elbow is designed to pre-establish the desired flow conditions at its inlet. By using multiple tubes with optimized curvature, the device creates favorable flow conditions that reduce the required length of the inlet section needed to achieve a fully developed, rotationally symmetrical flow profile before the flow meter.
Data Source
Figure 1~1b
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) for deflecting a medium (10) flowing in a pipe (9), comprising a plurality of individual pipes (3) and at least one first perforated plate (4) and a second perforated plate (5) having a plurality of recesses (2). The first perforated plate (4) is provided in the area of the inlet and the second perforated plate (5) in the area of the outlet in order to ensure the fixation and guidance of the individual pipes (3), the number of recesses (2) in both perforated plates (4, 5) corresponding to the number of individual pipes (3). The individual pipes (3) have each a deflection in the middle area (6) with a predetermined bending angle (a), the bending angle (a) from each individual pipe (3) being dimensioned such that the individual pipes (3) form a bundle with an essentially circular cross section. The individual pipes (3) forming the bundle run essentially parallel to each other, the inlet area (7) and the outlet area (8) of each individual pipe (3) being straight.