Further analysis of the aerodynamic behaviour of flow conditioners

The flow development downstream different combinations of flow conditioners, namely the Laws perforated plate, the tube bundle and the Etoile, has been investigated by measuring the axial velocity component and the turbulence intensity with a Laser Doppler Anemometry technique. The development of the velocity profile and the axial turbulent intensity downstream a 90° out of plane double bend with and without a flow conditioner, have been examined. The performance of the three devices in conditioning the disturbed flow and to produce the fully developed flow condition with respect to the standards specifications has been studied. Experiments have been performed with airflow through a circular pipe of 100 mm internal diameter. Discharge coefficient shifts due to the flow distortion were determined for three orifice meters with a diameter ratio β=0.5, 0.62 and 0.70 at flow Reynolds number ranging from 0.79 to 3.21x10 5 .