The Effect of Boundary Layer Separation on Accuracy of Flow Measurement Using the Gibson Method

The Gibson method utilizes the effect of water hammer phenomenon (hydraulic transients) in a pipeline for flow rate determination. The method consists in measuring a static pressure difference, which occurs between two cross-sections of the pipeline as a result of a temporal change of momentum from t₀ to t₁. This condition is induced when the water flow in the pipeline is stopped suddenly using a cut-off device. The flow rate is determined by integrating, within a proper time interval, the measured pressure difference change caused by the water hammer (inertia effect). However, several observations demonstrate that changes of pipeline geometry like diameter change, bifurcations, or direction shift by elbows may produce an effect on the computation of the flow rate. The paper focuses on this effect. Computational simulations have shown that the boundary layer separates when the flow faces sudden changes like these mentioned to above. The separation may reduce the effective cross section area of flow modifying a geometry factor involved into the computation of the flow rate. The remainder is directed to quantify the magnitude of such a factor under the influence of pipeline geometry changes. Results of numerical computations are discussed on the basis of how cross section reductions impact on the geometry factor magnitude and consequently on the mass flow rate.