Steam flow rate measurement using clamp-on type ultrasonic flow meter

A steam flow meter is required in industrial fields to save and manage energy. An invasive flow meter, e.g. orifice plate flowmeter, is difficult to measure a steam flow rate accurately since it disturbs flow fields. Therefore, we focused on a clamp-on type ultrasonic flow meter. An ultrasonic flow meter based on propagation time difference method was developed and verified experimentally. A steam flow test facility was established to confirm validity of clamp-on type ultrasonic flow meter. The test was conducted under the condition of the steam flow rate of 0 – 40 kg/h and the pressure of 0.2 MPa. As a result, the propagation ultrasonic waveform with high S/N ratio was obtained using super critical angle transducers of the clamp-on type ultrasonic flow meter. In addition, the followability of measured steam flow rate value by the developed flow meter to the measured value by vortex flow meter was confirmed, therefore, the applicability of this system for steam flow was clarified.