EXPERIMENTAL AND COMPUTATIONAL ANALYSIS OF PERIODIC FLOW STRUCTURE IN OSCILLATORY GAS FLOW METERS

The oscillatory characteristics and dynamic structure of periodic flow in an oscillatory gas flow meter were studied experimentally and numerically. The flow oscillations were triggered by the Coanda effect and an universal correlation between Strouhal number and Reynolds number, Str = 1.09 x 10(-3) for Re-HD > 800, was deduced based on spectral analysis of the pressure fluctuations in the flow channel. Numerical Simulation indicated that the evolution of the flow patterns was classified into stages of induction and sustainable periodic oscillation. The transformation between the two stages was noticeably affected by the design of the feedback channels. The results further revealed that the development of the main vortex in the oscillating chamber and the small vortices at the entrance of the feedback channels concurrently modulate the mechanism of oscillation. The small vortices located at both entrances of the feedback channels play the role of a pair of modulating valves, which alternatively switch on and off the bypass flow through each feedback channel, thus reinforcing the periodic oscillation.