Manufacture and Measurement Uncertainty Analysis of a Venturi Pipe for Airflow Measurement in Altitude Engine Test

Design, manufacture and calibration procedures of a venturi pipe flowmeter for airflow measurement in altitude engine test were discussed. Altitude engine test using venturi pipe was given as an example. The venturi was designed per the ISO standard of ISO5167, and was intented to include the entire airflow range in the test envelope of the gas turbine engine. Measurement uncertainty analysis was performed in the design procedure to investigate the effect of venturi geometry and sensor specification upon the measurement uncertainty. Manufacturing process was designed to minimize the deviation from the geometry of design. Calibration was performed to get the relationship between the discharge coefficient and the pipe Reynolds number. Then the uncertainty was assessed again using real data acquired during engine test. Through these procedures, it was possible to maintain the uncertainty of airflow measurement under 1 % for most of the operating envelope of the gas turbine engine. The discharge coefficient of the venturi pipe showed agreement with the value suggested in the ISO standard ISO5167-4 within 0.6 %.