On the use of perforated disk inserts in a round pipe to form a gas flow of the required structure in front of an ultrasonic flow meter

Unlike conventional gas meters, ultrasonic flow meters have such advantages as contactless operation, minimal pressure loss and high accuracy. When developing ultrasonic flow meters, like any other devices, assumptions and simplifications related to the theory of ultrasonic flow meters are used. When developing such devices, researchers do not always have the necessary space to deploy such structures. Therefore, the question arises of developing devices that can replace large sections of pipelines with various turns in the role of local resistances. The paper presents some studies conducted during the development of a perforated disk capable of forming a flow profile similar to the profile after a double bend. The presented results of a study of the influence of the perforated disk geometry on the gas dynamics and flow structure. The calculations were carried out using three-dimensional computer modeling. The analysis of the influence of the hole location, their sizes and the angles of inclination of the holes relative to the disk axis on the velocity distribution and the formation of the velocity profile downstream of the disk is the purpose of this study. Scalar and vector fields of velocities downstream of the perforated disk are obtained. Velocity profiles in sections behind the disk are constructed. A comparative analysis of different designs of perforated disks is carried out. The design principles of such flow formers are indicated. The geometric factors influencing the flow structure after the former are revealed. The revealed subtleties and described design principles made it possible to develop straighteners and flow formers based on perforated disks. The final samples of disks and the results of their operation are shown