Numerical simulations of a piston-type flowmeter of high linearity

Abstract

Numerical simulation is conducted of a new type of piston-cylinder flowmeter with a high degree of linearity. Numerical solutions to the Navier-Stokes equations are obtained by using the geometrical particulars which are close to thereat systems. The computed results demonstrate high degrees of linearity between the flow rate and force exerting on the piston. Numerically-constructed flow patterns and pressure profiles are presented. The effects of the gap size and the thickness of the piston on the linearity of the flowmeter are examined. Explicit impacts of the Reynolds number on the pressure profiles are exhibited. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.