THE USE OF AN ULTRASONIC FLOW METER IN THE ZONE OF INFLUENCE OF INDIRECT SECTIONS OF THE WATER PIPELINE

The accuracy of water flow rate measurement with an ultrasonic flow meter (UFM) is affected by pipeline conditions. On water pipelines, there is often no the required length of direct section, required by the device passport or regulatory documents. Therefore, we conducted experiments using UFM to measure water flow rate in the zone of influence of non-direct sections of the water pipeline. The flow rate was measured in two planes of the pipeline with an offset of 90 o and the average value was taken. Thus, it was expected to take into account the average water velocity for the asymmetric velocity profile. The results of water flow rate measuring with UFM on short direct sections of the water pipeline, limited by pipeline bends sudden constriction of the pipeline, are presented. The greatest influence on the UFM measurement error is the 90 o pipeline bends.