Flow conditioner

A flow conditioning device for insertion in a flow conduit transporting a flow stream includes a top flange defining a flow conditioning opening having an opening area size and receiving the flow stream, a bottom base receiving the flow stream after the flow stream passes through the top flange having a base area size, and a conditioning wall joining the top flange to the bottom base, where the opening area size is greater than the base area size.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application relates to a flow conditioner used to increase the symmetry of a flow profile inside a pipe to improve the accuracy of any meter that infers an average velocity from a single location.

BACKGROUND

Flow conditioners are typically used to reduce swirl and increase the symmetry of a flow profile inside a pipe to improve the accuracy of any meter that infers an average velocity from a single location. Flow conditioners are used typically in round pipes with a variety of flow meters such and a silt density index (SDI) meter, an ultrasonic meter, etc.

However, typical flow conditioners typically have suboptimal performance under certain conditioners. One such condition occurs when a flow is directed around a pipe elbow. The elbow introduces swirl into the flow that reduces the consistency of the flow across a cross-section of the pipe for a length of the pipe. An elbow further increases the velocity of the flow at the outside of the elbow while simultaneously decreasing the velocity at the inside of the elbow. Flow conditioners typically require a length of straight pipe to have a uniform flow prior to flow being conditioned by a flow conditioner.

Accordingly, there remains a need for a flow conditioner that is configured to condition a flow having an asymmetric flow profile. There further remains a need for such a flow conditioner conditioning the flow by distributing the asymmetry to have an asymmetry that is uniform across the diameter of the flow profile.

Other features of the flow conditioner, besides those discussed above, will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the description of the preferred embodiments which follows. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which illustrate examples of the invention. Such examples are illustrative, but for the scope of the invention, reference is made to the claims which follow the description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIG. 1A, a cross section view of a conical flow conditioner100is shown, according to an exemplary embodiment. The conical flow conditioner100is configured to provide a reduced flow diameter using a conical formation to introduce a uniform swirl to the flow profile to facilitate flow measurement. This conical formation increases the amount of swirl in the flow profile to mix the pattern of flow velocity and distribute the flow including the asymmetries uniformly across the flow profile. The conical flow conditioner100is shown rotated 90 degrees from the view inFIG. 1B, according to the same exemplary embodiment.FIG. 1Cis a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment.

Referring toFIGS. 1A-1D, flow conditioner100features a conical configuration having a top flange102and a base104with a cone wall106extending from the top flange102to the base104. The diameter of the cone wall106decreases from the point at which the cone wall106adjoins the top flange102to the point at which the cone wall106adjoins the base104. The cone wall106further defines a pre-conditioner flow space108. The conical shape of the pre-conditioner flow space108funned by the reducing diameter of the cone wall106introduces additional asymmetries to the flow entering the pre-conditioner flow space108based on interaction of the fluid with the cone wall106.FIG. 1Dis an end view of the exemplary embodiment locking from the base104towards the top flange102.

The cone wall106includes a plurality of cone wall apertures110that al low fluid to flow from the pre-conditioner flow space108thru the conical flow conditioner100. The cone wall106is angled such that the reduction in cross section increases pressure drop to promote flow to exit more evenly through the cone wall apertures110, rather than being biased towards the base104.

Cone wall apertures110are configured to decrease in diameter along the length of the cone wall106. Accordingly, cone wall aperture110include a first row112of apertures having a diameter of 1.38 inches, a second row114of apertures having a diameter of 1.25 inches, a third row116of apertures having a diameter of 1.25 inches, a fourth row118of apertures having a diameter of 1.13 inches, a fifth row120of apertures having a diameter of 1.00 inches, and a sixth row122of apertures having a diameter of 0.88 inches. The apertures110have a reducing diameter to maintain aperture110spacing its the circumference of the cone wall106is reduced along the length of the cone wall106. Further, the reducing diameter of apertures110may be based on the reduced flow velocity of a fluid as the fluid travels though the pre-conditioner flow space108from the top flange102to the base104. Although a specific configuration and diameter of aperture110is shown and described, one of ordinary skill in the art would easily understand that the configuration and diameters of apertures110may vary considerably dependent on the size of the pipe, the type of fluid, etc. and still achieve the advantages described herein.

Flow conditioner100further includes a plurality of straightening vanes130to remove the swirl introduce by interaction of the fluid with the cone wall106in the pre-conditioner flow space108. One of the vanes130is configured to include a locking nut140configured to facilitate mounting of the flow conditioner100to a pipe wall (not shown).

Referring toFIG. 2A, a cross section view of a conical flow conditioner200is shown, according to an exemplary embodiment. The conical flow conditioner200is shown rotated 90 degrees from the view inFIG. 2B, according to the same exemplary embodiment. Flow conditioner200similarly is configured to have a conical formation that increases the amount of swirl in the flow profile to mix the pattern of flow velocity and distribute the flow including the asymmetries uniformly across the flow profile.

Referring toFIGS. 2A-2C, flow conditioner200similarly features a conical configuration having a top flange202and a flow aperture204with a cone wall206extending from the top flange202to the flow aperture204. The diameter of the cone wall206similarly decreases from the point at which the cone wall206adjoins the lop flange102to the point at which the cone wall206defines the flow aperture204. The cone wall206further defines a pre-conditioner flow space208. The conical shape of the pre-conditioner flow space208formed by the reducing diameter of the cone wall206also introduces additional asymmetries to the flow entering the pre-conditioner flow space208based on interaction of the fluid with the cone wall206.FIG. 2Cis an end view of the exemplary embodiment locking from the flow aperture204towards the top flange202.

Cone wall206is configured to be shape to include a defined radial curve to reduce the occurrence of vena contracta at the flow aperture204. Vena contracta is the point in a fluid stream where the diameter of the fluid flow is the least, and fluid velocity is at its maximum. The maximum contraction of the fluid flow would typically take place at a section slightly downstream of the flow aperture204if the cone wall206were straight. However, introducing the defined radial curve to the cone wall206reduces the occurrence of vena contracta at the flow aperture204such that the maximum contraction of the fluid flow takes place more proximate to the flow aperture204.

Flow conditioner200further includes a plurality of straightening vanes210to remove the swirl introduce by interaction of the fluid with the cone wall206in the pre-conditioner flow space208. One of the vanes210is configured to include a locking nut220configured to facilitate mounting of the flow conditioner200to a pipe wall.

Flow conditioners as described herein in the above described embodiments reduce the straight pipe length that is required to achieve accurate measurement. Further, the flow conditioners described herein provide this advantage by reducing the amount of restriction to the flow to avoid significantly reducing flow velocity and introducing a pressure drop. This reduction saves materials, space and cost.

This has been a description of exemplary embodiments, but it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art dial variations may be made in the details of these specific embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention, and that such variations are intended to be encompassed by this description.