Development and Application of Flow Rate Meter Based on a Laser Doppler Anemometer

An LDA flow rate meter which is based on the LDA (Laser Doppler anemometer) technique has been developed. The principle of the LDA flow rate meter applied for circular pipe is following. The center line velocity of pulsating pipe flow was measured by the LDA. The velocity distribution profile in the pipe cross section can be numerically estimated, and then the instantaneous flow rate was calculated by the integration of the profile. Firstly, it was applied and evaluated at the pulsating flow made by an artificial heat-lung system. The system has a double roller pump with a vinyl tube of Ω-shape. Secondly, an intermittent flow rate at high fuel pressure injection system was also measured. Swirl injector generated the oscillating pipe flow under high line pressure of 5 MPa at injection frequencies of 20 and 40 Hz. There was a little difficulty at the measurement of injection flow depending on the zero velocity shifting. Finally, a correction method of zero shifting was proposed and the applicability of the flow rate meter was demonstrated.